DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Unable to overcome a rough start, the Delaware Valley University baseball team dropped its first game of a three-part series against Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom rival Misericordia University, 22-4, at home.
The Aggies dropped to 12-22 and 7-12 in the MAC Freedom while the Cougars improved to 27-10, 14-5 MAC Freedom.
In the top half of the first inning, as the skies began to drizzle, the Cougars flooded the bases for eight runs on six hits, one walk, and one error. Misericordia added two additional runs in the second to make it 8-0 after two.
After just five hits through the first four innings, DelVal got on the board in the fifth.
Joey Lodato started things off for the Aggies with a single to shortstop and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Timmy Lallis.
Tom Crooks then brought Lodato home with an RBI single to center field to make it 8-1
Misericordia continued to pour on the runs with seven in the top of the sixth, on seven hits and one error for a 17-1 advantage.
Luke Hendricks opened up the bottom of the sixth with a single to left field and advanced to third on a double by
Cody Brown down the left field line. After a pitching change for the Cougars, Hendricks made his way home as
Neal Flogel grounded out to third. Brown also scored on a double down the left line by
Josh Adamski.
Senior
Brendan Giampa entered the game in the seventh and did not allow any runs. Lachenmayer hit a sacrifice fly out to left field in the bottom of the inning to plate Crooks for DelVal's last run of the day.
The Cougars finished the game with five more runs in the ninth, including a grand slam by Shane Hughes for the 22-4 final. Six different players had multiple hits including Hughes and Smith who each had four and Kenny Jarema added three with three RBI. Hughes finished with six RBI and four runs scored. Ian McCole pitched five innings and allowed three earned runs with five punch outs in the win.
Brown and Crooks paced the Aggies with three hits apiece and Lodato went 2-for-3 with a run scored. DelVal threw four different pitchers in the game, but
Troy Lachenmayer suffered the loss after allowing 10 earned runs with two walks and a strikeout.
The Aggies travel to Dallas, PA this Saturday for their last two MAC Freedom games of the season as they close out the series against the Cougars beginning at 1 p.m.