Misericordia University advanced to the winner's bracket final of the NCAA Baseball Regional Championships with a 5-2 come-from-behind win over St. John Fisher, Saturday morning at Tambur Field.
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Joe Valenti and
Matt Lanzendorfer combined on a seven-hitter and held the Cardinals scoreless over the final eight innings.
Misericordia improved to 34-9 overall, including 16-0 at Tambur Field.
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The Cougars scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh and
Connor Maryniak added some insurance with a long home run in the eighth.
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After two quick outs to open the game, St. John Fisher strung together three straight hits to take a 2-0 lead.
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Brock Bollinger drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the first, but Misericordia didn't get another baserunner until the sixth.
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Garrett McIlhenney broke up a no-hitter with a two-out bunt single in the sixth and
Jack Regenye followed with an infield single, but both runners were stranded.
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Maryniak started the go-ahead rally with a first-pitch line drive single to left. He moved to second on a wild pitch and came around with MU's first run on
Joe Comins' one-hop double off the right field fence. Comins advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored the tying run on
Jason Sanfilippo's bunt single. Sanfilippo stole second and came around to score on
Brooks Kanwisher's single through the left side.
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Regenye reached on an infield error to start the seventh and scored on Maryniak's blast to left field.
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Lanzendorfer retired all six batters he faced, including three strikeouts, to earn his fifth save.
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Misericordia will face the Keystone/Middlebury winner in the winner's bracket final, Saturday at noon.
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