BRISTOL, Conn. (April 12, 2023) – Senior Chris Davis and sophomore Evan Pravato each had run-scoring singles as part of a three-run fifth inning as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team defeated No. 21/21 Misericordia University 5-2 Wednesday in a MAC Freedom matchup at Muzzy Field.

Sophomore Colby Ching and junior Christian Kreiser each doubled, and Pravato swiped a pair of bases for the Ducks, who improved to 19-9 on the year and to 10-5 in conference action. Stevens moved to within 1.5 games of second-place Misericordia in the conference standings.

Gabe Bunn and Connor Maryniak each drove in a run for Misericordia, who saw its 10-game winning streak come to an end in falling to 23-6 on the year and to 11-3 in the MAC Freedom. The Ducks' victory also snapped Misericordia's four-game winning streak in the all-time series.

The series finale was moved to Bristol, Connecticut to serve as a fundraiser for the Bristol Police Department and the families of Officers Dustin DeMonte, Alex Hamzy and Alec Iurato, who were ambushed on October 12, 2022, while responding to what ultimately ended up as a false 911 call. Tragically, DeMonte and Hamzy did not survive the attack. Iurato, a Misericordia baseball alumnus, threw out the ceremonial first pitch (a strike) and the Cougars wore commemorative jerseys. Both programs also helped organize a raffle.

"It was an honor to have our student-athletes and Stevens Baseball program participate in this great cause," head coach Kristaps Aldins said. "The loss that these families and the city of Bristol endured in this tragedy is heartbreaking. To see the community come together tonight and support each other was truly a sight to see, and something I will never forget. Thank you to the city of Bristol and the Misericordia Baseball program, who is led by coach Pete Egbert, for giving us the opportunity to share in this special evening."

Kreiser walked leading off the fifth for the Ducks' first baserunner. Junior Jack Irby singled off right-hander Tyler Leonard (3-2), who had retired 12 Ducks in a row. Davis put the Ducks on the board with an infield hit, cutting into Misericordia's 2-0 lead. Two batters later, Pravato snapped an 0 for 15 skid with a single to left to score Irby to draw the teams even. 

The Ducks shortstop then caused havoc on the bases, stealing second as the front end of a double steal, which allowed Davis to scamper home to put Stevens in front. Pravato then swiped third for his team-leading 15th steal.

With the lead in hand, Aldins turned to his bullpen to close out the game. Sophomore Matt Villapiano, first-year Erik Sibbach (5-2) and senior Anthony Pron combined for five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, and striking out three. 

Ching doubled leading off the sixth and came around to score two pitches later when Reyes drove Leonard's 1-0 pitch into center for his 27th RBI of the season. Sophomore pinch-runner Zachary Boykin crossed home in the ninth with a key insurance run as the Ducks took advantage of a pair of Misericordia errors.

Pron retired the side in the ninth for his fifth save.

Misericordia scored a pair of runs off first-year William Sotiropoulos to take early control. Bunn drove in Maryniak on a squeeze play in the second and then the Misericordia shortstop plated Derek Vosburg in the third with an infield single.

Graduate student Joshua Casado fired a scoreless inning as the Ducks' opener.

Up Next: Baseball opens a three-game series with Wilkes Friday at Dobbelaar Field with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. The Ducks are 5-2 against the Colonels since joining the MAC Freedom. Links for live stats and video are posted to StevensDucks.com.

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