Only a highlight reel catch kept the Misericordia University baseball team from a third consecutive Freedom Conference sweep as the Cougars split with Wilkes, Sunday in Swoyersville, PA. The Colonels took the opener 4-3 in eight innings, with MU winning the nightcap 14-3.

The Cougars jumped all over Wilkes in the first inning of game two with a four-run, two-out rally that featured RBI doubles from Nate Newman and Andres Gonzalez.

Newman was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Jeff Slanovec was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and freshman Ryan Cacchioli was 2-for-5 with a run batted in,

Mike Pena (3-0) was perfect through three innings and allowed three runs over six innings of work to earn another victory.

Wilkes didn't get their first hit until the fourth inning, but a three-run homer in that frame pulled the Colonels to within a run.

Misericordia pulled away five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Joe Tagliarini doubled in both Newman and Gonzalez, while Kenny Durling, Nate Hamlin and Tagliarini all scored on errors to stretch the home lead to 9-3.

A diving catch by Wilkes centerfielder Rich Cosgrove saved game one as the Cougars nearly rallied for the second time.

Down 3-1 heading into the final inning, freshman Frank Santarsiero barely beat the throw the third on Tagliarini's single. Cacchioli then brought Tagliarini home and Hamlin walked to load the bases.

Andrew Tressa dove headfirst into first base to beat the double play on the next at-bat, allowing Tagliarini to score the tying run. Wilkes grabbed one in the top of the eighth, but the Cougars made one more comeback attempt.

Gonzalez walked and Slanovec hit an infield single to give MU two runners. Both men would have come around to win on Tagliarini's blast to deep center field, but Cosgrove somehow ran the ball down with a sensational diving catch.

Cacchioli was 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the opener. Slanovec was 1-for-3 and added a run scored.

MU is 17-7, 8-2 and will travel to Marywood on Tuesday.