The Misericordia University baseball team fell to Heidelberg, 5-2, Thursday afternoon in Port Charlotte, FL.

Tyler Holzapfel launched the Cougars' first home run of the season and went one-for-two with a walk. Parker Abate was responsible for Misericordia's other run with an RBI single. The senior center fielder led the Cougars with a team-high two hits.

Misericordia scored the game's first run in the third inning. Conor Smith singled up the middle and advanced to scoring position on a Steve Weisensee ground ball to the right side. Abate then drove Smith home with a base hit down the right field line to make it 1-0.

Heidelberg answered back in the fourth inning when Jake Davis singled up the middle to give his squad a 2-1 lead. However, Holzapfel quickly responded in the bottom of the frame with a lead-off home run to tie the game, 2-2.

The Cougars threatened in the sixth inning, but couldn't plate a run. Holzapfel was hit by a pitch to lead-off the frame and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Sean Lyons. Shane Hughes was then hit by a pitch in the following at bat to put two runners on base with one out, but the rally was stalled by an inning-ending double-play.

Heidelberg looked to retake the lead with back-to-back one-out singles in the seventh inning. Kane Bateman then brought a runner home with a two-out base hit to put his team up 3-2.

The Student Princes added on another run in the eighth inning to expand their lead, 4-2. Misericordia starter Tom Jacob left midway through the frame with four earned runs and two strikeouts through seven innings of work. Sean Boylan, who entered in relief of Jacob, successfully minimized damage with three consecutive outs to end the inning.

After Heidelberg added on another run in the ninth inning, the Cougars looked to capitalize off several errors in the bottom of the frame. Shane Hughes reached second on a throwing error to open the inning and Brady Madden reached on a fielding error, which advanced Hughes to third.

However, the Student Princes were able to neutralize the threat with three consecutive outs to end the ballgame.

The #21 Cougars fell to 6-5 on the season while Heidelberg improved to 5-2 overall. Misericordia will wrap up their spring break trip against Moravian College, Friday at 10:00 AM.