Dallas, PA (March 25, 2022) - The DeSales University baseball team dropped the weekend series opener at Misericordia University, 10-9, in 10 innings on Friday afternoon at Tambur field.

The Cougars took a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, hitting back-to-back home runs, but the Bulldogs got four of the five runs back in the top of the second inning on five hits including RBI doubles from first-year Patrick Kusters and senior Trevor Leamer.

MU increased its lead to 8-4 thru five innings before DSU tied the game at eight hitting two-run homers in back-to-back innings off the bats of Kusters and senior Robert Lamm.

The Bulldogs took a 9-8 lead in the top of the ninth inning after a lead-off double from Lamm and a Cougar balk two batters later.

Senior Will Manley got the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth but hit the next guy on the first pitch.  A single moved that runner to third base and the tying run was scored on an infield single iin the hole to shortstop that Kusters was unable to backhand and make a quick throw to first base.

DeSales went quietly in the top of the 10th and MU put the leadoff on base after another hit batter, moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt and after two straight intentional walks, singled home the winning run.

Manley took the loss tossing 1 2/3 innings allowing just one hit and two runs.  First-years Frank Parrotti and Will Shelden each pitched well in relief allowing just two hits over 2 2/3 innings.

Kusters finished 2-for-6 with two runs and three RBIs, Lamm was 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs, and Leamer and senior Billy Scanlon each had three hits.  DSU out-hit Misericordia, 14-11, but struck out 19 times, while the Cougars walked seven times and were hit by a pitch five times.

These two are back in action tomorrow to wrap-up the weekend three-game set at Weiland Park beginning at 1:00 pm.