Dave Marriggi cruised thru the first three innings for Wilkes-Barre Coughlin in Monday's Wyoming Valley Conference Baseball match-up with Hazleton.
In the first inning Marriggi ended the inning with a strikeout leaving two Hazleton runners stranded.
In the third some leather saved the day for Coughlin when Ryan Sypniewski the Wilkes-Barre Coughlin right fielder made a great catch and doubled off the runner from first for the double play.
Hazleton used some smarts to end Coughlin's rally in the bottom of the frame. Pitcher Anthony Zaloga stepped off the mound and threw to third to start the rundown for the Cougars. They executed the rundown perfectly ending it with a tag at second and that was it for the Crusaders.
Several wild pitches from Marriggi in the fourth allowed Sal Blasi to score from third base and Hazleton was on the board 1-0.
Tyler Rubasky drove in Carl Cara in the fifth with a single and Hazleton had a little breathing room with another run and the 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the 7th Josh Featherman drove one over the center fielder's head for a triple.
Featherman would score on the Kyle Lupas sacrifice fly making it 2-1 Cougars.
Hazleton got a ground ball out to end the game. They earn a 2-1 victory over Coughin.
Anthony Zaloga goes seven strong innings for the win while giving up three hits and striking out three.