The Misericordia University baseball team headed into the ninth inning up 6-5 over Scranton Wednesday, but a three-run frame for the Royals was enough to hand the Cougars a loss. The Cougars (15-12, 4-5) salvaged one run in the ninth en route to the 8-7 nonconference loss.

 

Andrew Yasinski allowed five runs over seven innings before handing a tied game over to reliever Cody Hack. Yasinski allowed nine hits and struck out three over 33 batters.

 

The Cougars took the lead in the eighth, and Hack was able to get two outs before a Royal rally thwarted the Cougars.

 

The Royals got on the board first in the first inning on sac fly by Jon Psihoules, but the Cougars struck back in the next inning on an RBI-single by Mike Murphy.

 

Murphy started a rally in the next inning with a single and a stolen base. Two batters later, Nate Newman bashed a three-run homer to center to put the Cougars on top, 4-1.

 

Psihoules took a run back for the Royals with an RBI double in the seventh. Chris Bligh gave the team a lead two batters later with a three-run homer to right.

 

Down 5-4 in the seventh, Jamie Philippi knocked in a run on a fielder's choice. Newman followed in the eighth inning with an RBI double to put the Cougars up 6-5.

 

But a huge ninth inning for the Royals put a dagger in the game for the Cougars. David Giglio nailed a three-run shot to right that scored Psihoules and Bligh.

 

Scott Huddle hit a solo homer to center in the bottom frame of the inning for the Cougars, but it just wasn't enough.

 

Murphy and Newman each finished with three hits for the Cougars. Murphy had an RBI, two runs and two stolen bases. Newman had four RBIs and a run scored. Brandon Calafut and Jeff Slanovec each had a pair of hits.

 

Hack earns the loss for the Cougars after pitching two innings of relief. Mike Pyles earns the win for the Royals after 1 1/3 innings.

 

The Cougars host Alvernia tomorrow at noon.