An eight-run sixth inning and a great performance on the mound from Max Weintraub helped the Misericordia baseball team to its first Freedom Conference victory of the season, 13-1 over Manhattanville.

Jeff Slanovec batted 3-for-5 with a home run, while catcher Chris Tuttle was 2-for-3 with a home run, a triple, four RBIs and two runs scored.

Andrew Tressa went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Nate Hamlin (2-for-5, 2 runs scored), Nate Newman (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs) and Anthony Goncalves (1-for-3, RBI) also got in on the action as eight different Cougars recorded hits in the victory.

MU led 2-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth. With Kenny Durling and Bubba Jasinski having already crossed the plate, Tuttle launched his first collegiate home run and it was a bomb. His three-run shot hit a car in the right field parking lot and stretched the lead to 7-0.

The rally continued as Newman launched a three-run homer of his own, this time to centerfield, to push the advantage into double-digits.

On the defensive end, the Cougars shut down a potent Manhattanville lineup that had been averaging 10.2 runs a game and batting just under .400 as a team.

Every Valiant who got up to bat had entered the game hitting at least .314, but Weintraub was up to the task, striking out nine and allowing just four hits in 7-1/3 innings of work. Freshman Will Minderjahn did well in relief, throwing 1-2/3 scoreless innings.

With several key pitchers injured, Weintraub's consistency has been crucial this season. The sophomore (1-1) now has an ERA of 1.33 in 20-1/3 innings pitched.

Early on, the game showed little signs of turning into a blowout, with both teams battling to produce runs. Hamlin led the bottom of the first off with a double and was bunted along to third by Anthony Goncalves. After Newman was hit by a pitch, the senior was intentionally caught in a run-down so that Hamlin could score.

Manhattanville led off the fourth with a double and could have scored runs, but Hamlin robbed the Valiants of a two-run homer as he tumbled over the fence and held on for an outstanding catch. Slanovec hit a solo homer in the bottom of the inning.

The Cougars improve to 10-5, 1-3 and travel to Manhattanville for a doubleheader tomorrow.