The Misericordia University softball team opened its MAC Freedom schedule with a split at Arcadia, Sunday.

The Cougars took the opener, 9-1, in five innings, but their rally came up short in a 8-5 loss in the nightcap.

Alexa McHugh struck out five and scattered five hits to earn the win in the opener.

Emma Griffin had two hits and two RBI and Nicole Elliott and Kaitlin Redling added two hits each as the Cougars scored multiple runs in each of the first four innings.

McHugh doubled to lead off the game ad moved to third on Elliott's infield single.  Miranda Bohn drove in a run on a ground out and Elliott made it 2-0 on a wild pitch.

The Cougars used wild pitch and a ground out and error to plate runs in the second to take a 5-0 lead.

Redling and Bri Holder had back-to-back doubles to start the third and Antonia Pacillo drove in a run on a fielder's choice to make it 7-0 .

Griffin's two-out, two-run single to left gave MU a 9-0 lead in the top of the fourth.

Arcadia batted around to take a 6-0 lead in the third inning of the nightcap.

MU got two back in the top of the fourth on an RBI-single by Holder and a bases-loaded HBP by Brianna Burd.

Pacillo added an RBI-walk in the fifth and Redling had a two-run double in the sixth to get with 7-5.