Box Score

FORT PIERCE, Fla. – After rallying from a six run deficit, SU could not close out the comeback and fell to Misericordia 8-7 on Wednesday afternoon at the Lawnwood Complex.

Despite being shut out through four innings, SU (3-6)  rallied to tie the game at seven with a four-run seventh inning, highlighted by a pinch hit two-run triple by Mike Rucereto (Washington Twp. / Bergen Catholic).

The Crusaders began the bottom of the seventh trailing 7-3. Ty Raubenstine (Elizabethville, Pa. / Upper Dauphin Area) started off the big inning with a walk. Ethan Reiker (Lancaster, Pa. / Manheim Twp.) followed with a base knock and Nick Ferlise (Toms River, N.J. / Toms River North) executed a bunt single to load the bases.

Greg Stellon (Chadds Ford, Pa. / Tatnall School) walked to drive in a run and Alex Miskovsky (Manchester Center, Vt. / Burr & Burton Academy) picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice to make the score 7-5. Rucereto followed with the game tying hit. The Cougars (8-1) stopped the bleeding with a 9-3-2 double play to end the seventh and keep the game knotted at 7.

Misericordia went up 8-7 after a passed ball scored a runner on third. SU had one last crack to tie the game. Reiker led off with a single and moved into scoring position with a stolen base.

But the Cougars' right fielder gunned down Rieker at the plate after a Miskovsky single to end the game.

Dan Wing (West Chester, Pa. / Unionville / Catawba) went 3-for-5 with three RBI for SU. Reiker, Ferlise and Stellon all had two hits apiece for the Crusaders.

SU is off on Thursday and plays a double-header with Westminster (Pa.) on Friday starting at 9:00 a.m.