A late rally came up short as the Misericordia University baseball team dropped the series opener at Stevens, 8-7, Friday.

The Cougars scored six runs over the final three innings and stranded the potential tying run on second base in the ninth inning.

Connor Maryniak hit a two-run homer in the ninth and Derrick Vosburg had two hits and two RBI.

Joe Comins drove in two runs.

Justin Calvarese struck out four in 3.1 innings of relief.

Comins gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the top of the first inning.

After Stevens built a 7-1 lead after five innings the Cougars began to chip away in the seventh.

MU scored twice in the seventh and added two more runs in the eight.

Maryniak and Manganella both walked to start the seventh.  Both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt and Brady Madden drove in a run on a ground out.  Vosburg followed with a double down the right field line to make it 7-3.

Misericordia scored twice in the eighth without a hit.  Brendan Gray was hit by a pitch and Maryniak walked and Manganella reached via HBP to load the bases.  Comins drove in a run on a ground out and Madden and Vosburg were both plunked to force in a run and get within 8-5.

The Cougars got within a run on Maryniak's two-out, two-run homer in the ninth.  Santino Manganella doubled, but a line drive to shortstop ended the game.