The sixth-seeded Misericordia University baseball took an early lead over second-seeded Alvernia, but the Crusaders rallied for five runs in the ninth to erase a two-run deficit and capture a 6-3 victory in the winner's bracket of the 2015 NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Regional at Santander Stadium in York, PA.
 
With the loss, MU will now face top-seeded Kean in an elimination game Friday afternoon at 1:15. Kean fell to eighth-seeded PSU-Berks in its opening game Wednesday afternoon, but defeated fifth-seeded Mitchell College in an elimination game on Thursday afternoon.
 
Steve Cuccio led the Cougars' offense with three hits and one RBI while Al Reda added two hits and one RBI. Miles Westrich drove in one run in the loss.
 
Despite being credited with a no decision, Cory Vogeli was terrific on the mound for the Cougars. The southpaw struck out 11 while allowing just one run on four hits over six innings on the bump. Kyle Rogalski picked up the final three outs in relief.
 
MU scored all of its runs in the bottom of the fourth. Cuccio started the rally with a single down the left field line. Westrich then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, allowing D.J. Navoczynski to score from third while Reda capped the Cougars' three-run fourth with a line drive single to right.
 
The Crusaders got on the board with an RBI single to right-center in the top of the sixth, tightening the MU lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth. Vogeli limited the damage by striking out Vinny Case with two outs and the bases loaded.
 
Neither team plated a run until Alvernia's offense rallied for five runs in the top of the ninth.
 
Kevin Becker-Menditt tossed a scoreless ninth to preserve the 6-3 victory for the Crusders.
 
The Cougars fell to 30-12 on the season. Alvernia improved to 34-12 and will square off against fourth-seeded Salisbury University in the winner's bracket final Friday afternoon at 4:30.