The Misericordia University baseball team has now scored 50 runs over a three-game stretch after the Cougars defeated Elizabethtown 16-9, Wednesday in Ft. Pierce, FL.
Junior
Kenny Durling was 4-for-5 with a grand slam and three runs scored. Catcher
Andres Gonzalez (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) also scored three times for MU.
Sophomore
Zach Myers was 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs, and classmate
Andrew Tressa was 2-for-5. Freshman
Joe Tagliarini was also 2-for-5, with three RBIs.
The Cougars blew the game open with a 10-run sixth to break a 5-5 tie. With the bases loaded and one out, Gonzalez singled in a run and two more walked home. Tagliarini then singled in Gonzalez and Myers and
Nick Morreale (three RBIs) scored on an error.
The onslaught wasn't done, as Durling launched a grand slam over the center field wall, scoring
Dylan Mazzo,
Nate Hamlin and Tagliarini for a 15-5 Misericordia lead.
The Blue Jays answered with a grand slam of their own in the top of the seventh to get back into it. However, sophomore
Ron Guido came in and threw three scoreless innings to shut the door and earn the save. Freshman
Ryan Cacchioli (1-0) earned his first collegiate victory.
Gonzalez had the defensive play of the game, diving to snare a foul bunt in the second inning, with a man on second and nobody out. Elizabethtown still loaded the bases, but the Cougars executed a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the jam.
Tagliarini got Misericordia on the board in the bottom of the second, singling in Myers. Morreale brought Gonzalez home in the third for a 2-0 lead, but Elizabethtown grabbed a pair in the fourth, including an RBI single by former Cougar
Brian Verdelli.
Tressa made a nice play in the fifth, snaring a bouncer and throwing out the man at home with just one out.
MU scored three times in the bottom of the fifth. The bases were loaded with no outs when Myers doubled in Durling and
Nate Newman. Morreale's sacrifice fly brought out Gonzalez.
Elizabethtown tied it with at 5-5 with a three-run homer in the top of the sixth, giving MU starter
Pete Doggett (5 IP, 5 runs) a no-decision.
Misericordia benefited from 13 walks, in addition to three hit batsmen. The Cougars have now won six straight in Florida and face Penn State-Behrend, tomorrow at 4:30.
