The Misericordia University softball team advanced to the winner's bracket final with an 8-1 win over Arcadia in their first game of the MAC Freedom Championships, Thursday at Delaware Valley University.
 
The Cougars will face King's, Friday at 11:00 a.m.
 
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, Misericordia took a 2-1 lead in the third and scored in each of last four at-bats.
 
Nicole Elliott reached base four times and scored twice and Gianna Foreman had two hits and two RBI.  Zariah Alvin had two hits.
 
Alexa McHugh allowed just two hits over six innings and held the Knights scoreless after allowing an unearned run in the first.
 
Down 1-0, the Cougars took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third.  Elizabeth Kelly drew a lead-off walk and pinch-runner Kaitlyn Slusser went to third on Alvin's single to right center.  After pitching change, Bridget Doherty walked to load the bases.  Gianna Russo reached on an error and Slusser and Alvin scored to give MU the lead.
 
Elliott walked to re-load the bases, but the Knights got three straight outs to escape further damage.
 
The Cougars used some two-out magic to add an insurance run in the fourth.  Alvin drew a two-out walk, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch.  Doherty singled to left to make it 3-1.
 
Elliott and Redling walked to start the fifth and Elliott came home on a pair of Arcadia errors.  Emma Griffin drove in a run on a squeeze bunt and Alvin's two-out single up the middle made it 6-1.
 
Misericordia added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth.  Elliott reached via HBP and went to third on Redling's double.  Foreman followed with a single to center to put MU up, 8-1.
 
Marisa Kelly came on to retire the side in order in the top of the seventh.