2/21-Misericordia University to Host NCAA Regional at PNC Field
By: Phil Schoener
Updated: February 21, 2013
MOOSIC, Pa. - PNC Field is more than the home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. It is the home of NEPA baseball. And that home has expanded. In conjunction with the RailRiders, Misericordia University will host the 2013 NCAA Division III Baseball Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships from May 14-19 at PNC Field in Moosic.
The winner of the eight-team, double-elimination tournament will advance to the Division III College World Series, and will earn the berth in style. The RailRiders are putting the finishing touches on PNC Field's $43 million reconstruction over the next month-plus. The finished product will be one of the elite facilities in all of professional baseball.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for Misericordia University, our athletics department and our baseball program," said David Martin, Misericordia director of athletics. "We're thrilled to be partnering with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and to be able to play at such a spectacular venue."
Misericordia is the two-time defending Freedom Conference champion and has advanced to the NCAA Division III Regional championships each of the last two years. The Cougars reached the winner's bracket final of the 2011 Mid-Atlantic Regional and participated in the New York Regional a year ago.
Under head coach Pete Egbert, MU has gone 66-26 (.717) over the last two seasons, including a 36-10 (.783) mark and a spot in the national rankings a year ago.
"Engaging our community in every way we can is a daily goal," said RailRiders president and general manager Rob Crain. "The chance to partner with the fine folks at Misericordia on an event that will help determine a national champion is a no-brainer. We consider PNC Field the front porch of NEPA. Now, we have our first visit from a nearby neighbor."
The RailRiders' 2013 season gets underway with the grand opening of the reconstructed PNC Field on April 4 when the defending IL champion Pawtucket Red Sox come to town for a rematch of their 2012 playoff clash with SWB. It will mark the first "Thirsty Thursday" promotion of the year with $1 beer specials and $1 Pepsi products along with a pre-game live band performance and post-game fireworks. Partial and full-season ticket plans are now available.
