For the first time in program history, the Misericordia University baseball team will be playing in an NCAA regional title round after defeating Virginia Wesleyan, 14-4, Sunday evening at PeoplesBank Park in York, PA.
The Cougars will get another shot at Babson College after falling to the Beavers earlier Sunday morning. They will have to win twice, Monday, to be crowned Mid-Atlantic regional champions.
Tom Jacob gave the Cougars seven much-needed innings, allowing just three earned runs on six hits while striking out one.
Alec Iurato had two hits, two RBI and two runs scored and Tyler Holzapfel racked up three RBI. Conor Smith and Santo Guinta each added two RBI and Kenny Jarema and Steve Weisensee each had two hits and two runs scored.
Misericordia improves to 34-13 while the Marlins finish their season at 31-16.
After both teams went down in order in the first, the Cougars jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second. Iurato led off with a ground-ball double down the right field line and came around to score on a single by Weisensee for the game's first run. After a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch, Weisensee stood on third base with one out, which allowed Smith to lay down a squeeze bunt to double the lead to 2-0. With the bases clear and two out, Sean Lyons and Sean Boylan singled and walked, respectively, and each came around to score as Jarema and Parker Abate followed with RBI singles.
The Marlins came back to tie the game with a run in the third and then hit two home runs over the 37-foot wall in left field in the fourth to tie the game.
However, Misericordia responded with five runs in the fifth to take back the lead. Boylan was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and then scored from first on a ground ball to second by Jarema. After the second baseman could not field the ball cleanly, Boylan advanced to third. The throw to third went into the stands which allowed the freshman to come in and score.
Two batters later, Tyler Holzapfel delivered a two-run double to right field to put the Cougars up 7-4. After Iurato reached on a fielder's choice, Guinta just missed a three-run home run, but settled for a two-run double off the top of the wall to wrap up the five-run inning.
After Jacob worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth, thanks to a diving catch by Jarema at third base, Misericordia added three more runs in the sixth. Boylan reached on an error to lead off the inning and Jarema and Abate singled and walked to load the bases for Holzapfel, who was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Iurato followed with a chopper down the third-base line and past the third basemen, who was playing in, to drive in two more runs and put the Cougars up 12-4 after 5 ½ innings.
Misericordia tacked on another run in the seventh after Smith doubled when a popup landed between four Marlin infielders and eventually scored on a throwing error by the third baseman.
Kyle Rogalski pitched the final two innings for the Cougars, striking out one in a scoreless effort.
First pitch for tomorrow's game against Babson is slated for 11:00 a.m.
