March 26, 2008

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst softball team tallied 12 hits in game two as the Lakers split a non-conference doubleheader with rival Gannon Wednesday at Gannon University Field. The Lakers were hitless in a 7-0 loss in the opener but bounced back to defeat the Golden Knights 6-5 in game two.

After failing to get a hit off of Gannon's Lauren Soldner in the opener, it took Mercyhurst just two hitters to get the bats going in game two. Erin Ratajczak singled in the first inning, stole second and moved to third on a passed ball but was unable to score in the first.

But that changed in the second as Kara Gorgos had an RBI triple to put the Lakers on top 1-0 and Mercyhurst added to the lead in the third. The Lakers loaded the bases with no outs and Amber Rapose walked to push across Mercyhurst's second run. Danielle Zubek would later single to make it 3-0 after three.

Gannon came back with two runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 4-3 lead but Rapose followed in the fifth with her second homerun of the season to tie the game again. The Golden Knights scored one in the sixth to take the lead back yet again but Mercyhurst had the final answer in the bottom of the sixth.

Rapose and Michelle Schmitz each drove in a run in the sixth with bases loaded singles to put the Lakers on top 6-5. That was all the help Mercyhurst pitcher Carrina Crow needed as she finished off the complete game but getting Gannon to go in order in the top of the seventh.

Rapose ended the game 2-for-3 with three RBI and Ratajczak went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Jessica McNurlen and Gorgos each had two hits as well.

In the opening game, Gannon scored one in the first and three in the second to build a 4-0 lead. The Golden Knights added two more in the fourth and one in the fifth to put the game away.

Gannon moves to 16-8 on the season and Mercyhurst is now 11-9. The Lakers open conference play this weekend as they travel to Michigan to play Grand Valley State Saturday at 1 p.m. and Ferris State Sunday at 1 p.m.