ST. DAVIDS, Pa.- Though the game was played on Eastern's home field, the Misericordia University Cougars were the home team and had the final at bat of the game. A major accident on the Blue Route had the game starting a half hour late with only one umpire. Eastern loaded the bases with three consecutive balls hit to the third baseman in the 11th inning. On a day full of strange events, Devon Ziegunfuss capped a great at bat with a line-drive home run to straight away center for what turned out to be a game-winning grand slam.

As strange as it might sound, Ziegunfuss's blast might not have been the biggest play of the game. The Eagles scored four times in the fifth to give starting pitcher Nick Moeltner what seemed to be a comfortable lead. Mike McNulty led off the inning with a single to center, and Greg DeSarro smoked a double to right. Down two strikes, first-year catcher Derek Ryan lifted a fly ball to right-center to try to drive in the run. The Misericordia outfielder dropped the ball and Ryan made it to second. He and DeSarro then scored on a Kritian Cortizo double. The Eagles would add another unearned run, but left the bases loaded.

The Cougars (17-8, 8-3) answered with a single run off Moeltner in the bottom of the fifth and two more with two out in the seventh. Moeltner gave way to John Taylor after 6 2/3's. Taylor made it out of the seventh and retired the first two hitters in the eighth before Nate Newman scorched a low-liner over the center-field fence to tie the game.

"John and Nick both battled today," said Eastern Head Coach Matt Midkiff, "John's curve ball wasn't working, and so he was limited in what he could throw. Newman, I think, I think realized that. We needed Ernie [Stiegler] to have a big day today, and he did."

The Eagles went quietly in the top of the ninth, and Stiegler, who had pitched 2 2/3's innings on the year, walked Nate Hamlin to lead off the inning. Hamlin stole second after a slider bounced away from Ryan. A strong throwfrom the Eastern catcher made the play close, but the infield umpire, who arrived safely shortly after the start of the game, ruled that Hamlin was able to maintain contact with the bag. The Misericordia bench then made the decision to sacrifice to get the runner to third for a chance to win on a fly ball or ground out. Will Minderjahn nearly beat out the sacrifice on a good bunt to the third.

Stiegler then went ahead with two great sliders. The Misericordia bench then put on a suicide squeeze. Stiegler buried the slider low and away, and the batter waved a bunt over top of the ball. Ryan then executed a run-down to send the game to extra-innings.

Neither team threatened in the tenth. Scott Renauro made a great diving stop on a ball up the middle to give the Eagles a little life coming up in the 11th. McNulty fisted a slow roller down the third base line to start the inning. The swinging bunt stayed fair and McNulty reached for the second time. Jesse Taylor came in to run. Greg DeSarro then hammered a bad hop ground ball that Newman was able to get a glove on to keep in the infield, but no more. Dillon Schwartzer ran for DeSarro.

The two pinch runners made a difference as Ryan hit what appeared to be a routine ground ball to third. Taylor had a good jump on the play, and Newman took a step to tag him and thought better of it. Schwartzer beat the throw to second to keep the rally alive for Ziegunfuss's heroics.

"I told Dillon he needed to be ready to go," Midkiff said afterward, "It's a funny game, and those little things can be huge. Dillon was ready to his job, and it gave us a chance. Devon's at bat was great, but without that hustle play in front of it, it never happens."

Stiegler faced four batters in the ninth to earn his first win of the year. The sophomore reliever did not allow a hit over three scoreless innings. He struck out three.

The Eagles (10-14-2, 6-7-1 Freedom) will be the home team for a pair of games between the two teams here tomorrow. The games begin at noon.