The Misericordia University baseball team used big rallies in the sixth and eighth innings to shock #11 Keystone 9-4, Saturday in Winter Haven, FL.

After a long plane ride and an ugly loss to Coe earlier in the day, few would have given the Cougars a chance against the nationally-ranked Giants.

But with a professional scout in attendance to evaluate several Keystone players, it was the Misericordia student-athletes who prevailed with a gutsy and inspiring effort.

Senior Jamie Philippi turned in a sterling performance on the mound, allowing just two runs in seven innings of work. A pair of underclassmen- sophomore Max Weintraub and freshman Pete Doggett- came on in relief to close out to the game.

Catcher Chris Tuttle was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Outfielder Jeff Slanovec hit 2-for-4 in his first start since returning from the basketball team.

Sophomore Nate Hamlin continued his hot streak by going 1-for-1, drawing three walks and hitting a crucial sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.

With the game scoreless in the sixth, Hamlin singled, then advanced on a wild pitch before being sacrificed along by Nick Morreale. Nate Newman, Slanovec and Brian Verdelli then ran off consecutive hits to stake the Cougars a 3-0 advantage.

Philippi got out of the sixth but a two-run homer in the seventh pulled Keystone back into the game. A two-base gapper on the next play put the tying run in scoring position for the Giants with no outs.

The Keystone runner reached third on a sacrifice bunt but the Cougars kept their upset hopes alive with a huge first-to-home double play. Tuttle was bowled over at the plate but he held onto to the ball, and to MU's slim one-run lead.

Slanovec led off the top of the eighth with a double. Philippi then ripped a triple to the left wall, scoring pinch runner Kenny Durling and making the score 4-2.

The Cougars poured it on from there, as Philippi, Bubba Jasinski, Scott Huddle and Tuttle all crossed the plate, putting MU up 8-2.

Weintraub came in to pitch the eighth and, despite an opening walk, he put down the next three Keystone batters to bring MU within three outs of victory.

The Cougars nabbed an insurance run in the top of the ninth, with Jasinski batting in Anthony Goncalves after the junior had singled and stolen second to get into scoring position. While the Giants did grab two runs in the bottom of the ninth, Doggett was able to finish off the game in his first collegiate appearance.

Despite allowing 16 runs earlier in the day, Misericordia's defense was up to the task right from the beginning of the game. After allowing a lead-off double in the first, Philippi was able to pick the runner off at second.

Jasinski caught a tough liner to third as Keystone went down 1-2-3 in the second. Tuttle then threw out a runner at second to end the third inning.

The Cougars are now 3-1 and will play their third game in a 24-hour stretch when they face Baldwin-Wallace, tomorrow morning at 9 AM.