EDWARDSVILLE, PA – With the game tied at six, visiting Misericordia University scored two runs in the top of the ninth on way to an 8-6 MAC Freedom victory over Wilkes University Friday afternoon in the nine-inning opening game of the season series at Bruggeworth Field.
 
Wilkes slipped to 10-2 overall and 0-1 in MAC Freedom games while Misericordia improved to 8-6 overall and 1-0 in league contests.
 
Misericordia built a 3-0 lead through three innings scoring one run in each of their first three at-bats. The Cougars powered their way at the plate using two RBI doubles and an RBI triple to plate the three runs.
 
The Colonel bats began to click in the bottom of the fourth inning using  four hits including a long ball to tie and eventually take the lead in the frame. Michael Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) began the inning with a single up the middle and Dominic Bayo bunted and reached on a fielder's choice when the Misericordia catcher's throw went over the shortstop at second base putting runners at first and second with no outs. Nick Pronti (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Wood-Ridge) flied out to deep center field as Patrizio tagged and advanced to third on the play. From there it was one swing of the bat tying the game at three as Darren Kerdesky (Dallas, PA/Dallas) drilled a towering three-run home run to right field. Three batters later Zack Luksic (Shavertown, PA/Dallas) gave Wilkes its first lead of the contest hitting an RBI double to right field scoring AJ Brosious (Laurys Station, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) on the play as the Colonels led 4-3 after four innings.
 
The bats continued to stay hot through the bottom of the fifth inning as Patrizio notched his second hit of the game with a one-out triple down the right field line. Patrizio scored on the following play as Bayo connected on an RBI single to right field extending the Wilkes advantage to 5-3. Brandon Reno (Hunlock Creek, PA/Northwest Area) finished off the scoring in the frame with an RBI single to center field scoring Bayo to up the lead to three after five innings
 
Misericordia cut into the lead in the top of the seventh using an RBI single and double to score two runs and setup runners on second and third with one out. Sawyer Kemp (Nescopeck, PA/Berwick) entered in relief of starter JT Hibschman (Millville, NJ/Millville) and worked out of the jam on his only hitter of the frame getting a fly out to right field where Bayo would throw home and get the runner trying to tag up ending the Cougars rally with Wilkes leading 6-5.
 
The Cougars went on to tie the game at 6-6 in the top of the eighth using a lead-off single and sacrifice bunt before an RBI single scored the Cougars sixth run of the game.
 
Misericordia then took back the lead in the top of the ninth as the Cougars posted two runs on two hits to take a two-run lead with the Colonels last at-bats waiting. After a single and hit-by-pitch began the frame, a groundout and intentional walk loaded the bases with one out. An infield single followed by a bases-loaded walk two batters later plated the two go-ahead runs for the Cougars in their final at-bats of the game.
 
Wilkes then went in order in the bottom of the ninth to end the hopes of a comeback.
 
Kerdesky, Patrizio and Bayo each finished with two hits to lead the Colonels as Wilkes finished with ten total hits in the game.
 
Hibschman went 6.1 innings scattering nine hits and five runs (four earned) in the no decision. Kemp followed pitching 1.2 innings allowing two hits and one run while Nate Jaslar (Hanover, PA/Hanover) pitched the ninth suffering the defeat allowing two hits and two runs in the final frame.
 
Garrett McIlhenney and Austin Miles each recorded three hits to lead the Cougars at the plate.
 
Matthew Lanzendorfer pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth inning to record the win while Connor Maryniak earned the save pitching the scoreless ninth.
 
The two teams finish off the season series tomorrow (Saturday) with a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m. at Tambur Field in Dallas, Pa.