Center Valley, PA (May 8, 2026) - Senior
Mike Hooker pitched eight strong innings and graduate student
Owen Fischl and sophomore
Jacob Rivera each hit home runs leading the DeSales University baseball team past Misericordia University, 4-3, in game one of the MAC Freedom Baseball Championship series on Friday evening.
The Bulldogs now just need one more win this weekend over the Cougars to take home the MAC Freedom title and secure a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament next weekend.
The Cougars (28-16) took a 2-0 lead with two runs in the second inning.
That score remained into the sixth when DSU put its first two runners on base with walks. Fischl came to the plate and drilled a three-run home run to left center field and two batters later, Rivera hit his fourth dinger of the year over the left field fence giving the Bulldogs a 4-2 lead.
The Cougars got one run back in the top of the seventh inning but Hooker and junior
Alex Crudder did the rest picking off a runner at second in the eighth to end a threat and stranding the tying run on second in the ninth.
Rivera finished the game 3-for-4 to lead the offense, while Hooker earned his eighth win of the season, the second most in a single-season in team history, lasting eight innings allowing three runs. Crudder recorded his third save with a scoreless ninth.
Game two is slated to begin tomorrow at 1:00 pm. Stay tuned for weather updates on the start of action tomorrow.
