Misericordia became the first squad in school history to win multiple NCAA tournament games, improving to 2-0 in the Mid-Atlantic Regional with a 4-0 victory over Catholic, Thursday.

Fifth-year senior Nate Newman (4-1) continued his remarkable transformation from all-conference infielder to ace pitcher, striking out three in a complete-game shutout.

Newman, the school's career leader in almost every power hitting category, never saw the mound until two relief appearances last year and didn't make his first career start until April 27th of his final season. He has now thrown 31 consecutive shutout innings.

Junior Jeff Slanovec was 3-for-5 with two RBIs, while sophomore Andrew Tressa continued his NCAA hot streak with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate. Classmate Kenny Durling was 2-for-5 with an RBI, and Newman (2-for-5) tripled in the ninth while adding an RBI and a run scored.

The Cougars jumped all over the Cardinals with three runs in the top of the first. Durling singled in Michael Impellittiere before Slanovec hit a huge two-out, two-RBI single to score both Tressa and Newman.

Newman helped his own cause in the fifth with a two-out single that brought Ryan Cacchioli home and put the Cougars ahead by four.

Misericordia catcher Chris Tuttle nearly got the second inning off to a good start but his gapper was run down by the Catholic centerfielder with a nice sliding catch.

Leftfielder Nate Hamlin had the defensive play of the game in the bottom of the second, leaping into the wall to grab a shot to left field. Catholic had two runners in scoring position in the third but Newman's first strikeout of the day got him out of the jam.

The Cardinals helped avoid further trouble by throwing out men stealing at second in both the third and fourth innings.

Tressa made a great defensive play in the bottom of the sixth, diving to corral a grounder and throwing a man out from his knees. Newman later snatched a bouncing comebacker and turned a 1-6-3 double play in the eighth.

MU improves to 30-14 and will face the winner of #13 Alvernia and #22 Rowan, Friday at 6:45.