York, Pa. (May 7, 2017) - Second-seeded Arcadia University (32-11) scored three runs in the fifth then added insurance in the sixth and seventh innings of an 8-4 win over #1 Alvernia University (28-13-2) in the MAC Commonwealth Baseball Championship Final Sunday afternoon at PEOPLESBank Stadium.

Alvernia scored two in the fourth to tied the game at 2-2 then added a pair in the fifth for a 4-2 lead, but Arcadia answered right back with three in the bottom of the fifth, scored once in the sixth and two more in the seventh.

Ian Shaffer ripped a double to center to plate Nathan Sides for a 3-2 lead then scored on a sacrifice fly for the 4-2 lead.

Bryan Gillen opened the Arcadia fifth with a single, moved up on an error, and scored on a single off the bat of Luke Hohenstein.  The Knights put runners on second and third with two outs on a hit batter and a wild pitch, and championship MVP Jordan Draube came up with the big hit getting a 2-2 pitch through the left side to plate a pair and give Arcadia a 5-4 lead.

Alvernia got a runner to third with two out in the top of the sixth, but couldn't bring him in before Arcadia doubled its lead on an RBI-single by Hohenstein.

The Crusaders had another chance when Sides opened the seventh with a double.  He was eventually stranded at third, and Arcadia tacked on a pair in the bottom of the seventh on two hits and a pair of Alvernia errors.

Alvernia hit three fly balls in the eighth and went in order in the ninth to close the game.  Sides and Colin Rieger had two hits each and seven other players had a hit apiece for the Crusaders.

Arcadia claims the MAC Commonwealth automatic qualifier into the NCAA Championships.  Alvernia will await the possibility of an at-large bid to be determined next Monday.  The MAC will host one of eight regionals back at PEOPLESBank Stadium in York.