GLENSIDE, Pa. - The Arcadia University baseball program opens the MAC Freedom Semifinals Saturday in a best-of-three series at top-seeded Misericordia with a trip to the championship series on the line. The Knights advanced to the semifinals with a 2-1 series win over fifth-seeded Wilkes, capped off by a 6-5, series-clinching win on the road.

MAC FREEDOM BASEBALL SEMIFINALS (BEST-OF-THREE)
#4 ARCADIA (21-10) at #1 MISERICORDIA (23-7)

Games 1 & 2: May 8 | 12 p.m. | Tambur Field (Dallas, Pa.)
Game 3 (If Necessary): May 9 | 1 p.m. | Skip Wilson Field (Ambler, Pa.)

*Per Misericordia University's spectator policy, fans from visiting institutions will not be permitted to attend athletic events*

Related: 2021 MAC Freedom Baseball Championship Central

ABOUT THE KNIGHTS
-The Knights staved off elimination in Sunday's decisive game three of the MAC Freedom Quarterfinals at Wilkes as Justin Massielo's eighth inning two-out, two-run double lifted Arcadia to a 6-5 win in a back-and-forth battle. The Colonels got the tying run to third with two outs in the ninth, but Zach Steiger closed the door with a game-ending strikeout to pick up his third win of the season.

-Trevor Mattson hit his seventh home run of the season in the series-clinching win, bringing him within one of the league lead while also ranking second with a .448 (39-for-87) batting average. The senior's 13 doubles are currently tied for the conference lead with teammate Zachary Sekelick.

-Arcadia's 4.01 team ERA is tops in the MAC Freedom heading into the semifinal weekend, led by Luke Fournier's league-leading mark of 2.29. Hunter Curley rounds out the top-five in the conference with a 3.03 ERA in seven appearances. Steiger and Owen Margolis have been solid throughout the 2021 season out of the bullpen, as Margolis boasts a 0.57 ERA with a team-high four saves in nine appearances while Steiger has struck out 31 in 16.2 innings iin his nine appearances.

ABOUT MISERICORDIA
-The Cougars have won the last nine MAC Freedom titles and enter the weekend winners of 14-straight games following a quarterfinal sweep of Delaware Valley by out-scoring the Aggies, 25-2. Misericordia won the regular season series with the Knights in early April by taking three-of-four.

-Misericordia currently leads the MAC Freedom with a .348 team batting average and ranks second with a 4.23 team ERA. Sean Boylan's .464 (45-for-97) batting average and 39 RBI are the top marks in the MAC Freedom entering this weekend, while Derrick Vosburg is also hitting above .400 (.403) with 24 RBI.

-Brendan Gray and Tom Jacob head the Cougars' pitching staff as the top two starters while Tyler Leonard has proven to be the top arm out of the bullpen. Gray's 2.79 ERA is good for fourth in the MAC Freedom while Jacob is tied for the conference lead with Gray with six wins. Leonard has a 1.96 ERA in ten appearances out of the bullpen to go along with five saves on the year.