April 21, 2006

Stats

Erie, Pa. - Northwood silenced the Mercyhurst bats Friday afternoon in sweeping a doubleheader from the Lakers by scores of 9-1 and 5-1. The Lakers were held to a combined three hits in the twinbill. The Timberwolves improved to 29-12 overall and to 12-4 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) while the Lakers fell to 14-25 and 2-10.

Northwood jumped on Mercyhurst for eight runs in the first inning of the opener. Lakers' starter Jen Feret (8-12) faced seven batters, all of whom reached base. She allowed seven runs, six earned, and six hits before exiting in favor of Brittany Strier. Strier gave up another run before getting out of the inning as the Timberwolves collected four singles and three doubles in taking control early. Strier worked the rest of the way, allowing only Rachel Minikel's third homerun of the season in the Northwood second.

Northwood starter Lisa Shepard (18-3) and relief pitcher Carly Laxton held Mercyhurst hitless through four innings. Laxton allowed the lone hit to Anne Styn with one out in the last of the fifth. Styn's looper to left, coupled with a pair of walks and an infield error, averted the shutout as the Lakers left the bases loaded.

Earlier this season, Feret pitched against Northwood in Florida and shut down the Timberwolves, allowing no runs on four hits in a complete-game 1-0 win.

Northwood, ranked #18 nationally, then completed the sweep with a 5-1 verdict in the nightcap. All five runs, three earned, came against Mercyhurst starter Katie Clark (1-3), who worked the first five innings. Kim Griffin pitched a scoreless sixth.

Northwood began the scoring in the second-inning run on a three-base outfield error and a squeeze bunt. The Timberwolves scored twice in the third on a double, a single, an outfield error, a walk, two passed balls, and a wild pitch. NU finished its scoring and put the game away with a pair in the fifth on two more doubles, a wild pitch, and an infield error.

Melissa Rizzo ruined Northwood's second shutout bid of the afternoon with a lead-off homer in the sixth, her fourth of the campaign.

Sheena Smith (6-5) worked the first six innings for the Timberwolves. She allowed only two hits in picking up the win. Korey Schluckbier worked a scoreless seventh.

Mercyhurst will continue conference action Saturday with a pair of games against visiting Lake Superior State. The first game is scheduled to start at 1:00pm.