The Misericordia University baseball team punched its ticket to the 2025 MAC Freedom Playoffs with a 10-4 win over Stevens in the series opener, Friday afternoon at Tambur Field.
 
The Cougars put up five runs in the third inning, due in large part to a bases-clearing double by Jared Hoffman.
 
Hoffman led MU with five RBI on three hits with two doubles. Jack Regenye followed with four RBI on three hits.
 
Owen Daminger and Jake McDonough scored two runs apiece.
 
Bryan Henry advanced to 7-2 on the season, striking out five batters and shutting out the Ducks through 6.0 innings of work on the mound.

Henry set the tone for Misericordia on the mound in the top of the first, making an incredible reactionary catch on a line drive towards his head to end the inning.
 
In the bottom of the inning, a wild pickoff attempt to first base moved Brooks Kanwisher across the diamond to third. He came in to score on a perfectly-placed bunt by Regenye, who reached first on the play.

Regenye advanced two bases on a pair of passed balls and crossed home plate on a wild pitch, opening up a 2-0 lead for the Cougars.
 
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the third, Hoffman laced a ball down the left field line. All three base runners came around to score as Hoffman's double increased MU's lead to five.
 
Regenye stepped up to the plate later in the inning with the bases loaded once again. He singled through the left side of the infield, scoring Drew Van Horn and Hoffman. The Cougars now held a comfortable 7-0 lead.
 
Henry returned to the mound for his fourth inning of work and pitched a 1-2-3 inning.
 
MU picked up its eighth run on a sacrifice fly by Regenye, scoring Owen Cordner from third. After five innings, the Cougars led, 8-0.
 
Hoffman continued his productive day at the plate in the bottom of the sixth with another double down the chalk. Daminger and McDonough came around to score, opening up a 10 run advantage for Misericordia.
 
Stevens began to rally in the bottom of the ninth with a leadoff home run and a three-run shot later in the inning, cutting its deficit to six.
 
Max Kniedinger entered the game and fanned the first batter he faced. He received some help from Ethan Elmes, who had subbed into left field and made a diving grab to rob the Ducks of a potential extra base hit. Kneidinger struck out another batter for the final out of the game as Misericordia picked up a crucial 10-4 victory in the series opener.
 
The Cougars travel to Stevens for the final two games of the regular season, Sunday at 1:30.