Box Score The Misericordia University softball team earned a 5-1 victory over Arcadia in the opening game of the 2014 ECAC South Tournament at Anderson Field on Saturday morning.
 
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the home half of the third. Diana Kestenbaum drew a leadoff walk and moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt by Melanie Quintanilla. The strategy paid off as Megan Gowe drove in Kestenbaum with a ground ball single up the middle.
 
Melissa Parker extended the MU lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single up the middle, allowing Sam Hare to score from second. Hare led off the inning by being hit by a pitch and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch.
 
Andi Veneziale and Hare gave the Cougars some breathing room by blasting back-to-back homers to left field to extend the MU lead to 5-0 after six innings of play.
 
The Knights picked up a run in the top of the seventh when Jessica Wood scored on a MU fielding error.
 
Hare led the Cougars at the plate with two hits, including a two-run home run.
 
Bailee Schies picked up the win for the Cougars, allowing just two hits over six shutout innings. The freshman walked one and struck out one to improve to 14-6 on the year. She also came back in to shut to get the final out of the game.
 
Erin Wilson suffered the loss for Alvernia, allowing two runs on three hits. Nicole Larro, Jessica Wood and Alicia McMahon had the only three hits for the Knights.
 
The Cougars move on to face the winner of Alvernia/McDaniel today at 4 p.m. while Arcadia will play the loser of that game today at 2 p.m.