CENTER VALEY, Pa. – Nine runs across the final three innings helped the No. 5/8 Arcadia University baseball team open its final Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) series with a 12-5 win at DeSales University on Friday afternoon.
 
The Knights, who with the victory have secured and outright claim to the MAC Freedom regular season championship, improved to 17-2 in conference play and 32-6 overall.  
 
Arcadia opened the scoring in the top of the first when Alex Madera walked, moved to second on a bunt base hit from Emilio Pallante, advanced to third on a fly out off the bat of Justin Massielo, and crossed the plate on a balk.
 
The Knights added to their lead in the top of the third when Matthew Sot led off reaching second on an error, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Madera, and scored on a Hunter Curley single to left making the score 2-0.
 
DeSales scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning to tie the score. 
 
Arcadia retook the lead back for good in the top of the fourth when Zachary Sekelick reached a single to third base, followed by Griffin Murphy with a single to left field advancing Sekelick to second. Sot then singled to left-center advancing allowing Sekelick to score. 
 
The Knights extended their lead in the top of the seventh when Matt Donchez lead off with a walk, followed by Madera singling to left field advancing Donchez to second. Pallante loaded the bases with a single to left with Massielo coming through with a two-run single bringing home Donchez and Madera making the lead 5-2.
 
Arcadia added four more runs in the top of the eighth on a two-run double from Donchez bringing home Trey Obarowski and Sekelick, followed by a run scoring groundout off the bat of Madera and a double to left by Pallante.
 
The Bulldogs cut the lead to 9-3 with a run in the bottom of the eighth.
 
The Knights increased the lead to 12-3 with three runs in the top of the ninth before DeSales scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth.
 
Nick Fossile improved to 5-1 with the win, allowing nine hits and two runs across 6.0 innings with four strikeouts and one walk. Owen Margolis earned his eighth save of the season tossing the final three innings.
 
Madera finished 3-for-4 with two rbis's and two runs scored while Pallante went 4-for-6 with one rbi to lead the offense. 
 
The Knights return to action on Saturday when they host DeSales for a 12:00 p.m. MAC Freedom doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m.