The Misericordia University baseball team dropped a 9-7 non-league contest in a battle of regional powers, Monday afternoon at Keystone.

Parker Abate and Cole Bixler both had three hits for the Cougars and Kenny Jarema blasted a three-run homer.  Conor Smith and Jeremy DeCotiis both had two hits and drove in a run while Brett Davis added two hits.

The Cougars took a 7-5 lead in the top of the fifth inning, but were held scoreless the rest of the way and the Giants rallied for four runs in their next three at bats.

After Keystone took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second, the Cougars got the runs back in the top of the third.  Jarema was hit by a pitch, moved up a ground out and went to third on Steve Weisensee's infield single.  Jarema came home on a passed ball and Bixler singled up the middle to drive in Weisensee.

Chad Bell was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the fourth and DeCotiis drew a one-out walk before Jarema gave the Cougars a 5-2 lead with a three-run homer to left field.

Keystone got three back to tie it in the bottom of the fourth.

MU went back in front for the final time with two runs in the top of the fifth.  Abate singled with one out and moved to second on Brett Davis' single up the middle.  Pinch-hitter Evan Bush was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Smith singled to left to drive in a run with Davis thrown out at the plate.  DeCotiis followed with a two-out single to center to make it 7-5.

Keystone got a run in the bottom of the fifth and scored twice in the sixth to go ahead, 8-7.

The Giants added an insurance run on a solo homer in the seventh.

The Cougars threatened in the ninth when Davis led off with a single to right and pinch-hitter Santo Guinta singled through the left side.  Smith moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt, but they were stranded there.

Misericordia will host Immaculata, Wednesday at 4:00.