The Misericordia University baseball team won its second consecutive Freedom Conference Championship by defeating DeSales, 5-3, Saturday evening in Quakertown.

Tournament MVP Jeff Slanovec had an RBI double and Andrew Tressa went 3-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

Chris Tuttle added two hits and scored two runs and Will Minderjahn had two hits.

Matt Karabin earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief to improve to 7-1 while Gabe Noyalis pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his fifth save.

Kenny Ridge led DeSales with two hits  while Nick Chiovitti had two RBI.

DeSales took an early lead when they scored two runs in the top of the second inning.  Derek Chismer led off with a single and moved to second on Charles Dennis' single through the left side.  After a sacrifice bunt, Chiovitti made it 2-0 with a single through the left side.

The Bulldogs threatened in the top of the third with runners on first and second with no outs.  After a failed sacrifice bunt, MU starter Evan Robaczewski struck out two batters to escape the inning unscathed.

The Cougars kept the momentum rolling with three runs in the bottom of the third.  Chris Tuttle opened the inning with a single to left center.  A sacrifice bunt moved him to second and Andrew Tressa doubled off the left center field fence to bring Tuttle home and give MU their first run. 

With two outs, Kenny Durling singled to left field to plate Tressa and keep the inning alive for Slanovec.  Slanovec ripped a double off the right center field fence to drive in Durling and take a 3-2 lead after three innings of play

DSU tied it with a run on two hits in the top of the fourth.  Drew Borger led off with a single and came around to score on Ridge's single to left center to it at 3-3.

In the top of the seventh, Karabin entered the game with runners on first and second with no outs.  Tressa made a diving stop at third and Karabin forced a fly out and struck out a batter to escape the inning unharmed.

Misericordia went back in front with a run in the bottom of the seventh when Tuttle singled and moved up on Joe Tagliarini's sacrifice.  Tressa singled and Tuttle came home on a DeSales' misplay to make it 4-3.

MU was on the attack again when Ryan Cacchioli reached second on a two-base error and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt.  Tuttle bunted down the first base line to plate Cacchioli and extend the lead to 5-3.

Misericordia, 36-8, will play in the NCAA Regionals at a time and place to be determined.