FORT PIERCE, Fla. -- The Kenyon College Owls lined up against a particularly tough opponent on Wednesday at the Lawnwood Baseball Complex as the team took on Misericordia University, the defending NCAA Division III national champions. The Owls hung in and battled back against the No. 11-ranked Cougars as Kenyon's offense scored a season-high five runs, but Misericordia managed to keep Kenyon at bay and use small-ball to pile up 10 runs for a 10-5 victory at Bob Gladwin Stadium.

The Cougars controlled the first two innings, scratching a pair of runs across in each frame to build an early 4-0 advantage. Misericordia had three hits and a walk in the first inning before benefiting from two hit batters and two knocks in the second inning. Kenyon got out of the inning with an unconventional 2-1-5-2 caught stealing, stranding a runner to stop the scoring.

The defensive stop was crucial to keep the game from getting away from them, and the Owls offense came up in a big way in the top of the third. The leadoff man got on after Ben Resnick got plunked, but back-to-back outs had the Owls looking at a missed opportunity. Enter Edwin Groff, who crushed a no-doubt home run over the left-field fence, cutting the deficit in half, 4-2. The big hit gave Kenyon life, and Dustin Lee lifted one immediately after, a ball that carried just over the glove of the center fielder and over the fence for another dinger. The hits marked the first homer of the year for each senior and brought the Owls within one at 4-3.

After throwing 48 pitches in the first two innings, Peyton Hodges worked a 12-pitch, 1-2-3 third to put the first zero on the board for the Kenyon defense. The sophomore was one pitch away from another shutdown inning in the fourth, but a bloop single found a home down the right-field line just over a diving Lee, allowing a Cougar runner to score from first. The hit knocked Hodges from the game, and Misericordia kept it rolling with two more runs after welcoming first-year Chris Cannuscio with consecutive RBI doubles to go up 7-3.

The Cougars added two more hits and another HBP in the fifth, pushing the lead to 10-3 thanks to two unearned runs. A couple of frames later in the seventh, the same part of Kenyon's order that got the offense going sparked another spurt.

Ben Zimmerman's speed helped force a throwing error to lead off the inning, and Nate Rosen followed up by lacing a double to set the Owls up with two runners in scoring position and no outs. Groff and Lee again went back-to-back, this time with consecutive RBI groundouts that cut Kenyon's deficit to 9-5. Unfortunately for the Owls, the comeback came up short. Misericordia added another unearned run in the eighth, leading to the 10-5 win. 

The Cougars compiled 15 hits and benefitted from three hit batters and three Kenyon errors. Misericordia made the most of getting men on base, wracking up eight stolen bases, highlighted by four bags from Brock Bollinger. On the mound, Max Kneidinger (1-0) got the win after going six innings and notching eight strikeouts.

Groff and Lee led the Owls with two RBIs apiece, and Groff paced the offensive with two hits in a 2-for-5 performance. Senior Christian Harris had a nice relief outing, striking out two batters over two innings while allowing just one unearned run on three hits and a walk.

The Owls have another off day on deck as the team's next game is scheduled for Friday, March 7, when the Owls will take on Lebanon Valley College. First pitch is set for 10 a.m.