The Misericordia University baseball team used a five-run sixth inning to fuel a comeback victory over Wilkes, Friday afternoon at Tambur Field, defeating the Colonels, 8-5, in MU's home opener.
The Cougars improve to 9-3 and 1-0 in conference play while Wilkes falls to 5-8 and 2-2 in the MAC Freedom.
Parker Abate went 2-3 with an RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases for the Cougars and Billy Kerwien went 1-1 with two RBI off the bench. Kenny Jarema contributed with two hits and an RBI.
Elliot Forde started for Misericordia on the mound and pitched 5.1 innings, striking out five while allowing four runs of which three were earned. Taylor Price struck out the only two batters he faced in relief to earn his first collegiate win.
The game was scoreless for the first three innings before Wilkes broke through for two runs in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Matt Reinert. The Colonels added two more runs in the sixth off Forde on a single by Tyler Walther before Price came in to strikeout the next two batters to leave a runner on base.
The Cougars broke through in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs to take the lead. Santo Guinta led off the inning with a walk before Steve Weisensee singled and advanced to second on an error to put runners on second and third with no outs for Shane Hughes. The freshman came through, knocking in Guinta with a single to left field.
After a hit batter and a walk to force in a run, Sean Lyons hit a sacrifice fly to center field to pull within one. Jarema followed with a singled to right to tie the game before Conor Smith hit another sacrifice fly to the center fielder to give Misericordia a lead they would not relinquish.
The Cougars added three insurance runs in the seventh on an RBI singles by Abate and Kerwien, who rocketed a single through the left side of the infield to drive in two.
Kyle Melahn pitched two hitless innings in relief, getting a huge double play with the bases loaded to end the eighth before he handed the ball off to Drake Koch for the ninth. Koch allowed a run, but was able shut the door to secure the win for the Cougars.
Misericordia will conclude this series at Wilkes, tomorrow with a doubleheader slated to begin at 1:00.
