The Misericordia University softball team advanced to the winner's bracket final with an 8-4 win over Stevens in the opening game of the MAC Freedom Championships, Thursday at Lebanon Valley.

The Cougars will face top-seeded Lebanon Valley, Friday at 11:00 a.m.

Emily Susanj hit a three-run homer and Bridget Doherty and Mackenzie Fizer both had two hits.

Casey Funesti had a two-run single and Gabby Cruz worked 5.1 innings to get the win.

Sienna Lawson tossed 1.2 shutout innings to close out the game.

The Cougars took advantage of a pair of walks to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the third.  Savannah Richards walked with one out and Riley Nasso drew a two-out walk.  Fizer singled in a run and Gianna Russo was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Funesti
singled up the middle to make it 3-0.

Stevens got a run back in their half of the third, but the Cougars answered with a run in their next at-bat. Gianna Foreman drew a lead-off walk and pinch-runner Emma Lamlin eventually scored on Doherty's infield single to make it 4-1.

Russo reached on an error to start the fifth and Funesti walked before Susanj blasted a three-run homer to left to give MU a 7-2 lead.

Fizer led off the sixth with a double to the wall in left center and Russo lined the first pitch she saw through the gap in right center to extend MU's lead to 8-4.