The Misericordia University baseball team fell 16-6 in their Central Florida Invitational opener against Iowa's Coe, Saturday at Chain Lakes Park in Winter Haven, FL.

After hitting a three-run homer last weekend in his first MU at-bat, sophomore Nate Hamlin continued his red-hot start with a pinch-hit RBI double to the left field fence in the bottom of the sixth.

Freshman Brian Verdelli went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Leadoff man Anthony Golcalves walked twice and scored a run, while freshman Mike Impellittiere was 1-for-1 and also scored.

After hitting the opening batter, MU starter Ryan Dauley finished off Coe in the first without allowing a hit. Trouble came in the second inning however, as the Kohawks rang up five hits to open up an early 6-0 lead.

The Cougars crept back into the game in the bottom of the second by drawing six consecutive walks/hit batsmen to score three two-out runs and cut the deficit in half.

With the bases loaded, Andres Gonzalez drew a walk to score Verdelli. Goncalves then walked, allowing Bubba Jasinski to score. When Jamie Philippi was hit by a pitch, Scott Huddle walked in giving MU three runs despite the fact that they were still without a hit.

MU allowed three more runs in the top of the third and trailed 9-3. Coe again walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning but MU hit into a double-play to end the inning.

MU reliever Dave Smith loaded the bases and allowed one run in the top of the fourth but was able to get a flyout to get out of the jam and strand three Coe baserunners.

Smith then induced a double play to end the fifth inning, but the Kohawks put the game away with three runs in the sixth.

The contest was called after seven innings with Coe leading 16-6, due to tournament rules.

The Cougars are now 2-1 on the season and are right back in action against nationally-ranked Keystone later today.