April 23, 2008

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
GALLERY

Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst baseball team put together one of its most dominating performances of the season Wednesday night at Jerry Uht Park, sweeping a doubleheader against rival Gannon by scores of 6-3 and 4-0 to extend its winning streak to a season-long five games.

The Lakers pounded out 12 hits--including at least two from five different players--in game one and leaned on its senior bullpen of James Ludwig and John Morris to clinch the win.

In the nightcap, the Lakers sent red-shirt sophomore Steve Grife to the hill and on three days rest, he hurled his first complete game shutout of the season, striking out eight while allowing just four hits and walking one.

Mercyhurst also received a standout performance at the plate from senior Dan Bertolini, who went 6-for-8 with two doubles and three runs scored in the two games.

Bertolini played a key part in Mercyhurst's big four-run fourth inning that broke a scoreless tie. John Blike, who finished the game 3-for-4, led off with one of his two doubles. Adam Schlessel drove him in with a single up the middle. Jonathan Keppler walked and Bertolini singled to keep the inning rolling. Adam Gray followed with a double down the right field line. Keppler scored and Bertolini reached the plate on an overthrow. The ball skipped into the stands, allowing Gray to cross the dish, as well.

Gannon, however, answered right back with three runs off Laker starter Wes Craig (5-2) in the top of the fifth. But Blike's RBI single in the fifth increased the lead and heads up base running by Jamie Walczak in the sixth gave the Lakers plenty of insurance, as Ludwig made his record-breaking 22nd appearance of the season and worked 1.1 innings before handing the ball to Morris, who sat the Golden Knights down in order in the seventh to notch his sixth save of the season.

With his 22nd appearance, Ludwig set a new school single-season mark, besting the record of 21 that he set in 2007.

There was no need for the Laker bullpen in game two, though, as Grife continued to be lights out on the hill. Grife improved to 4-5 on the season with Wednesday's win, and in the last three games, he has totaled 26 strikeouts to just three walks while posting a 1.35 ERA in 20 innings of work.

Gannon's only threat to score came in the third when runners reached second and third on a pair of hits. But Grife escaped unscathed by notching a strikeout for the third out of the inning.

The Lakers scored one run in each of the final four innings. Bertolini recorded his first four-hit outing since 2007, going 4-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Senior Joe Luli also hit a towering home run over the left-center field wall to lead off the fifth.

Grife entered the seventh with a four-run lead and ended the game in style by picking up his eighth and final strikeout of the evening.

Walczak and Luli each recorded two hits and an RBI. Two of Bertolini's four hits were doubles, as well.

Wednesday's doubleheader was Mercyhurst and Gannon's first meeting at Jerry Uht Park since 2004, and the Lakers have now won 15 of the last 16 games against Gannon.

Mercyhurst will look to extend its streak with a four-game series Saturday and Sunday at Grand Valley State.