The Misericordia University softball team split a doubleheader with Stevens in the MAC Freedom Championship series, Saturday afternoon at Anderson Field.

The Cougars won the opener, 7-0, but dropped the nightcap, 8-5, in nine innings.  The Cougars will travel to Stevens for the title game, Saturday at 3:00.

Alexa McHugh struck out 10 batters and Nicole Elliott hit a grand slam and drove in five runs in the opener.

McHugh and Zariah Alvin both had two hits, including a double.

The Cougars jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the nightcap, but Stevens rallied to for a decisive third game.

Amanda Butera had four hits and Maddie Holub added two hits for the Cougars.

In the opener, McHugh doubled down the left field line to lead off the third.  After Alvin walked an Holub was hit by a pitch, Elliott homered to left field to give the Cougars a 4-0 lead.

McHugh lined a single to right to open the third inning and raced all the way to third when the ball was misplayed.

Holub's two-out single to left made it 5-0 and Elliott drover her in with a double into the left field corner.

Butera grounded a single up the middle to give MU a 7-0 lead.

In game two, the Cougars took a 5-0 lead in the second.  Butera led off with an infield single, stole second and went to third on an error.

Kaitlin Redling walked and Brianna Holder dropped an RBI-single inside the right field line.

McHugh reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases and Alvin drove in a run with a ground out to make it 2-0.

Holub singled up the middle to drive in a run and Holder came home when the ball was mishandled in the outfield.

Holub went to third on an infield error and came home on a wild pitch to give the Cougars a 5-0 lead.

Stevens took advantage of four walks as part of a five-run fourth-inning to tie the score, 5-5.

The Ducks scored three times in the ninth to hand the Cougars their first home loss of the season.