Story Courtesy of Misericordia Athletics

The Misericordia University softball team advanced to the winner's bracket final of the MAC Freedom Softball Championships with a 4-2 win over Stevens, Friday afternoon at Anderson Field.

Gabby Cruz struck out five and scattered eight hits over seven innings to get the win.

Kiersten Tinio had an RBI-double and Rylie Nasso drove in a run for the Cougars.

Down 1-0 in the first inning, the Cougars went in front with two runs in the bottom of the first. Bridget Doherty reached via hit by pitch and raced all the way around when Tinio lined a 3-2 pitch into the left center field gap for a double. Tinio came around to score
when Gianna Russo's fly out was misplayed in right field.

The Cougars added two more runs in the bottom of the third.  Mackenzie Fizer lined a single to center to open the inning and moved up on a wild pitch.  Russo blooped a single into short centerfield and Rylie Nasso singled through the left side to drive in a run.  Fizer moved to third on the play and came home on a throwing error to make it 4-1.

Stevens brought the potential tying run to the plate in the seventh, but Fizer ranged to her right and Russo made a nice pick at first base for the final out.