DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Conor Smith had a walk-off single with two outs in the ninth inning as Misericordia University posted a 6-5, Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom victory over Delaware Valley University.

The Cougars, who are the seven-time defending conference champions, improved to 18-7 and 8-2 while the Aggies slipped to 7-11 and 2-4.

Even though the game was played at DelVal, Misericordia was the considered the home squad. The Aggies found themselves down one heading into the top of the ninth when Michael Milazzo led off with a single. Joey Lodato came in to pinch-run and he promptly stole second. Following a strikeout, Tom Crooks delivered with a double that brought Lodato in with the tying run.

However, in the bottom of the ninth, the Cougars put a runner on with one out and he moved to second on a sacrifice. Following a hit batsmen, Smith came through with a base hit that plated the game-winning run.

Misericordia scored three times in the first, including a two-run homer Santo Guinta. The Aggies responded with four of their own in the third inning. The first scored on a double play while next two came in thanks to a single by Ryan Schuetrumpf. Jeremy Stewart was later hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The Cougars regained the lead in the bottom of the third as Tyler Holzapfel and Guinta hit back-to-back homers for a 5-4 lead. It stayed that way until the DelVal rally in the top of the ninth and the Misericordia walk-off in the bottom of the stanza.

Crooks and Timmy Lallis had three hits apiece for the Aggies while Schuetrumpf was 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Three pitchers took the mound with Sean McFadden suffering the loss.

For Misericordia, Elliot Forde was the fifth pitcher for the squad and got the win after blowing the save. Guinta was 2-for-3 with two home runs and three RBIs while Tyler Holzapfel went 2-for-5 with a round-tripper and two RBIs.