BOX SCORE  | PHOTOS

Moosic, Pa. (May 17, 2013) - Third-seeded Misericordia University (38-10) scored four runs in the first inning and swiped nine bases on 10 attempts in a 6-0 win over #4 Alvernia University (34-11) Friday morning in game nine of the NCAA Division III Baseball Regional at PNC Field.

Alvernia senior Leon Stimpson (Philadelphia, Pa./Malvern Prep) opened the game with a walk, but was thrown out trying to steal second with one out.  Alvernia starter Aaron Benusis (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) walked Kyle Lindsay to start the bottom of the first.  Lindsay went to third on a single by Andrew Tressa and Kenny Durling flipped a single to left to score Lindsay.

Durling stole second--the first of three in the inning for the Cougars--and Julian Faria ripped a single inside the bag at third to drive in two more.  Faria moved up on a wild pitch and after a walk to Ryan Cacchioli the runners stole second and third.  Joe Tagliarini followed with a sacifice fly plating Faria with the fourth run of the inning.

Misericordia starter Will Minderjahn made it stand going the distance for his second complete game of the season, and improved to 6-0.  He gave up four hits and four walks in shuting out the Crusaders who went scoreless for the first time all season.

Alvernia junior Chris Gehris (Sinking Spring, Pa./Holy Name) went 2-for-4 on the day, and went 6-for-13 in three games at PNC Field.

Alvernia had baserunners in seven of the nine innings and had runners in scoring position in four of those innings, but couldn't drive home a run.  The Crusaders finished the day 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position in the game and just 1-for-14 in their two losses.

Misericordia tacked on a pair of runs in the fourth against Benusis with two hits, a walk, and three stolen bases including a double steal of second and home.

Benusis was charged wiht six earned runs on six hits and four walks with a strikeout.  Senior Cody Smith (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic) threw three innings of relief shutout out the Cougars on two hits with three strikeouts.  Anthony Gambino (Allentown, N.J./Allentown) threw a scoreless eighth.

Misericordia moves on in the losers bracket to face the winner of #5 Johns Hopkins vs #6 Ramapo.  The Alvernia season comes to a close with the Crusaders having made their fifth straight regional appearance and reaching 30 wins for the fourth straight season and fifth time in the last six years.

#3 Misericordia 6, #4 Alvernia 0