The Misericordia University baseball team pulled out a 7-6 win in the opening game its series with Manhattanville, Friday.

The Cougars opened a 6-1 lead in the seventh inning, but needed a ninth-inning rally to win.

Parker Abate, Steve Weisensee, Brady Madden, Billy Kerwien and Shane Hughes all had two hits.

Tyler Holzapfel drove in two runs and scored winning run in the ninth inning.

Kyle Melahn struck out four in three innings of relief to earn the win.

Ian McCole started and allowed four hits in six innings.

In the top of the second, Kerwien singled with one out and went to third on a single by Hughes.  Both runners came home when Conor smith reached on an error.

MU added a pair of runs in the fifth.  With one out, Kenny Jarema walked on four pitches and went to second on Abate's single to left.  Weisensee singled in a run and Madden reached via hit by pitch to load the bases.  Holzapfel singled to right center to make it 4-0.

The Valiants got a run back in the bottom of the fourth, but Cougars plated two runs in the seventh.

Abate led off with a bunt single and Weisensee and Madden both singled to load the bases.  Holzapfel drove in a run with a sac fly and Hughes singled in a run to give the Cougars a 6-1 lead.

Manhattanville scored four runs in the seventh and used a two-out single to drive in the tying run in the bottom of the eighth.

With one out in the ninth, Holzapfel walked on four pitches and raced to third when Kerwien's single was misplayed in the outfield.  Both runners advanced on a wild pitch as Holzapfel came home with eventual winning run.

Melahn stranded the potential tying run on first base to close out the game.

The Cougars will host the Valiants in a doubleheader, Saturday at noon.