April 19, 2006

Stats

ERIE, Pa. - David Lough hit two home runs in game one and Adam Nine tossed a shutout in game two as Mercyhurst (27-11, 13-5 GLIAC) swept crosstown rival Gannon 11-27, 1-15 GLIAC), 8-2 and 3-0 in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) doubleheader. The Lakers have now won 10 in a row and 16 of their past 17.

Game One
David Lough had his second two-homer game in three days as Mercyhurst took the first game of the doubleheader from Gannon, 8-2.

The sophomore centerfielder, who hit a pair of home runs in game one of a doubleheader at Clarion on Monday, took Golden Knight starter Ricky Hulsinger over the left field wall to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

In the bottom of the inning a two-out rally was capped by a David Gnacinski single that knotted the score at 1-1. Gannon threatened in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with one out. But Brandon Mendola fanned Gnacinski and forced a ground out to get out of the jam.

The Lakers erupted for five runs in the fifth to blow the game open. Joe Luli hit a three-run bomb to right center to give Mercyhurst a 6-1 lead. Earlier in the frame, Mercyhurst loaded the bases with one out and a Joe Mariano ground ball scored pinch runner Bryan Doberdruk. Lough followed and reached on an error that scored Dan Bertolini to set up Luli's long ball.

Back-to-back doulbes by Zach Leslie and Jon Dziomba brought Gannon to within 6-2 after six innings. Mendola struck out Erik Harpster to escape the inning with runners on second and third.

After a two-out single by Mariano in the top of the seventh, Lough went deep to right center off Bob Ohmer and the score was 8-2.

Gannon got a runner on in the seventh, but Mendola forced Chris Miller to ground into a game ending double play.

Lough and Luli each finished the game 2-for-3 with three runs batted in. Lough scored three times, while Luli doubled and stole a base.

Mendola pitched his fourth complete game of the year and improved to 4-2. He struck out seven Golden Knights and walked two.

Lough's two homers give him seven for the season, which places him second in the GLIAC. It also ties for the sixth most in a season in Laker history.

Josh Dziomba went 2-for-4 to lead Gannon.

Hulsinger dropped to 1-5, but just two of the six runs he allowed were earned. He walked three and fanned one. Ohmer allowed two runs in one inning of work.

Both teams had eight hits.

Game Two
Adam Nine pitched a four-hitter and Mercyhurst got solo home runs from Matt Echan and Sean Weyant to win 3-0 in game two and take the sweep.

Nine improved to 6-1 and threw 50 of 81 pitches for strikes. He struck out two and walked one.

Nine and Gannon hurler Josh Leslie battled in scoreless duel into the top of the fifth. Weyant took Leslie's first pitch of the inning and hit it over the right field wall to put Mercyhurst ahead. After a flyout by Dan Bertolini, Echan deposited a Leslie offering over the right field wall and the Lakers led 2-0.

Mercyhurst added an insurance run in the sixth against reliever David Schuyler. Weyant plugged an RBI single through the right side to drive in Scott Monzel.

Weyant finished 2-for-3 with a homer and two runs batted in. David Lough reached base in all four of his plate appearances. He went 1-for-1, walked twice and was hit by a pitch. He also stole a base.

Zach Leslie and Roby McNerney accounted for all for Gannon hits with two hits apiece.

Leslie went five innings and allowed five hits and walk. He struck out two batters and walked one. Schuyler finished the game allowing a run in two innings of relief.

With six wins, Nine is tied with 12 other pitchers for ninth most in a season at Mercyhurst.