Box Score DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Delaware Valley University senior Nate Cummings smacked his first career home run, but the Aggies dropped a 7-1 home decision to six-time defending Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom champion Misericordia University in the opening contest of a three-game series.
 
The Cougars improved their record to 10-4 overall and 3-0 in league action while DelVal fell to 6-5 and 1-3. The series is scheduled to shift to Dallas, Pennsylvania for Saturday's doubleheader.
 
Misericordia did most of its damage in the first three innings of Thursday's match-up as it jumped out to a 6-0 lead. The Cougars plated three in the first with RBI hits from Alec Iurato, Tyler Holzapfel and Jeremy DeCotis. In the second, an RBI double by Billy Kerwien made it 4-0. Then in the third, a run-scoring double by Alec St. Pier and an Aggie error accounted for the next two runs.
 
In the bottom of the third, Cummings stepped up to the plate and hit a 2-2 pitch off the left field foul pole for the round-tripper. Cummings made it a 2-for-2 day in the single when we lined a base hit into left.
 
They turned out to be the lone hit for DelVal on the day as four Misericordia pitchers combined to face just three batters over the minimum. Its defense helped them out by turning three double plays. Jake Kurtz went six innings and allowed the one run and two hits while improving to 2-0 on the year.
 
Offensively, the Cougars had 14 hits on the afternoon including eight doubles and one triple. DeCotis, Iurato, Kerwien and Steve Weisensee had two hits apiece. Scott Carton knocked in the team's run in the ninth with a double.
 
Trevor Dalton went three innings and fell to 3-1 on the season for DelVal. The Aggies got strong relief performances from Hunter Mease and Brendan Giampa as the two combined for five innings of scoreless ball while permitting just four hits.