Nate Newman, who scored two runs and drove in
three, was named the tournament MVP. Misericordia sports information |
Misericordia is headed to the NCAA tournament for the first time
ever after the Cougars defeated FDU-Florham 9-3, Monday at
Quakertown's Memorial Stadium.
Junior Nate Hamlin (1-for-3, 2 runs) had the big hit of the day,
with a three-RBI double. Junior Andrew Tressa was 2-for-5 with an
RBI and two runs scored, while classmate Michael Impellittiere was
2-for-4 with a run.
A pair of freshmen, Ryan Cacchioli (2-for-5, run) and Joe
Tagliarini (2-for-4, RBI), both had solid contributions for the
Cougars as well.
Sophomore Will Minderjahn earned the victory, while ace Patrick
Clark threw four outstanding innings to close it out, striking out
six.
Things came undone for the Devils in a fifth inning that featured
five Cougar runs on three hits and two costly FDU-Florham
errors.
Misericordia loaded the bases with just one gone in the fifth,
after Impellittiere and Tressa singled and Nate Newman waited out a
walk. Catcher Andres Gonzalez then knocked in a run and also
reached safely after an error on the play.
With the bases still loaded, Hamlin cleared them with a double off
the wall that FDU leftfielder Ryan Kalish almost managed to reel
in, colliding with the wall in a valiant attempt to make the catch.
Hamlin later scored on an error to make it 8-2, Misericordia.
Clark entered the game in the sixth inning and worked his way out
of a bases-loaded jam, allowing just one run on a sacrifice fly to
left.
After the leadoff man reached in the top of the eighth, Clark
struck out the side to bring Misericordia to within three outs of
the title.
Earlier, Cacchioli led off the bottom of the first by bouncing a
single off the pitcher's mound. Impellittiere bunted him along and
Tressa's gapper brought him in for the first tally of the
championship game. On the next pitch, Tressa scored on Kenny
Durling's single.
In the bottom of the fourth, Tagliarini came within inches of his
first collegiate homer, putting a ball off the top of the left
field wall and scoring Hamlin on the play. 3-1
The Devils had pulled one back in the top of the third, when
Freedom RBI-leader Matt Oliveto knocked in Steve Seminerio.
Seminerio would score again in the fifth on Nick Core's sacrifice
fly to pull FDU-Florham to within one.
FDU starter Bobby Smith (2-2) took the loss after allowing four
earned runs and striking out five in 4.2 innings of work. The
Devils didn't manage one extra-base hit, although Seminerio was
2-for-3 with an RBI and also scored twice.
Misericordia senior Nate Newman was the tournament MVP after
hitting three homers and throwing a complete game shutout
yesterday.
Misericordia improves to 27-14, while FDU-Florham is 22-14.