Feb. 27, 2008

Box Score

West Palm Beach, Fla. - Mercyhurst scored eight runs but its pitchers could not take advantage, walking eight batters and surrendering 14 runs to Palm Beach Atlantic late Tuesday evening. The 14-8 loss snapped the Lakers' three-game winning streak.

It was the fourth-straight game in which the Lakers had scored seven runs or more, and they did it without the services of starting seniors Joe Luli and Jeff Stoll. Their replacements at first base and right field, John Blike and Greg Turk, each tallied a pair of hits.

But Mercyhurst found themselves down early as starter Trey Archer (0-1) was bounced after one inning, allowing two runs on one hit and three walks. The bullpen, pressed into action early, faired no better, as four pitchers combined to allow 12 more runs, eight of which were earned.

Palm Beach Atlantic built a 7-0 lead before the Lakers managed to climb within striking distance. In the top of the fifth, freshman Jonathan Keppler singled in Joseph Furner for Mercyhurst's first run and sophomore Trey Bennett followed with another RBI single.

Keppler then scored on a wild pitch, and Scott Monzel drew a bases loaded walk to bring the Lakers to within four. Another wild pitch plated Bennett and Adam Gray drove in Monzel, capping a five-run, four hit inning.

Palm Beach Atlantic snuffed out the Laker charge, though, immediately answering with five runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.

Mercyhurst dropped to 4-3 with the loss while Palm Beach Atlantic improved to 2-14. The Lakers return to action against Division I St. Bonaventure Wednesday at the Papa John's Palm Beach Challenge. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.