The Misericordia University baseball team used a six-run eighth inning to pick up a 10-5 victory in the opening game of a three game series with Freedom Conference foe, Eastern University, Friday afternoon at Tambur Field.
 
Mike Comerford drove in three runs to lead the MU offense while Chris Boroch, Jeremy DeCotiis and Steve Cuccio drove in two runs each. Al Reda added an RBI double and Brian Eshleman added a hit in the victory.
 
Ryan Dorosh tossed seven strong innings, allowing two runs while striking out five to improve to 5-0 on the season. Jim Tunison gave up one run out of the bullpen, but got himself out of jam in the eighth inning, preserving the MU lead. Mike Bernet struck out two in the top of the ninth to solidify the 10-5 victory.
 
Eastern got out to a fast start, scoring two runs in the top of the first.
 
However, Comerford cut the Eagles' lead in half with a sacrifice fly in the home half of the first.
 
Boroch tied the game with a ground ball to second base, allowing Nick Hair to trot in from third. DeCotiis then roped an RBI double to left-center, giving MU its first lead of the game at 3-2 after two innings of play.
 
Boroch added to the Cougars lead with an RBI single down the left field line in the top of the sixth, making it a 4-2 ballgame heading into the top of the seventh.
 
Eastern threatened in the eighth, scoring one run on a Tommy Gorton RBI double down the left field line. However, Tunison and the Cougar offense worked themselves out of the jam, clinging to a one-run lead.
 
The Cougars' offense then exploded for six runs in the bottom of the eighth. Reda, DeCotiis and Comerford roped doubles while Cuccio capped the rally with a two-run single down the left field line, giving MU a 10-3 lead after eight.
 
Eastern added two in the top of the ninth, but it was too little, too late, as MU hung on for the 10-5 victory.
 
With the win, MU improves to 19-6 overall and 8-3 in the Freedom Conference. With the loss, Eastern falls to 9-15 overall and 6-8 in the conference.
 
The two teams conclude their three game set with a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Eastern. First pitch is slated for 12:00 from St. Davids, PA.