April 9, 2008

Game One
Game Two

Erie, Pa. - Playing a pair of road games on its home field, the Mercyhurst baseball team received an RBI double from junior Greg Turk in the top of the 10th inning to top Gannon 5-4 in game one of Wednesday's doubleheader.

After winning the first game, the Lakers fell 1-0 in game two, ending its streak of 13-straight wins over the Golden Knights. With the split, the Lakers move to 14-16 (3-11 GLIAC) and Gannon improves to 5-17 (1-9 GLIAC).

Playing as the visiting team in the opener, the Lakers jumped out to a 4-1 lead on the Golden Knights after six and a half innings. Gannon, however, loaded the bases on two walks and a hit by pitch on Laker closer John Morris. A Mercyhurst error allowed two runs to cross the plate, bringing the score to 4-3.

Mercyhurst called on reliever James Ludwig, but Gannon tied the game on a squeeze play. Gannon scored three runs in the inning despite not recording a hit.

Ludwig remained on the hill for the Lakers and worked through 2.2 scoreless innings. In the top of the 10th, Craig Denman drew a walk and Turk followed with a double down the left field line to give the Lakers the lead.

Ryan Schreiber came on in the 10th to close the door on the Golden Knights, earning his first save of the season.

Ludwig (2-1) was credited with the victory and reliever Drew Rojek (1-2) took the loss. Senior Eric Drobotij got the start for the Lakers and did not allow an earned run in six innings of work. On the game, all four of Gannon's runs were unearned.

Six different Lakers recorded at least one hit and four totaled two hits. It was the first time in seven games that the Lakers totaled 10 hits. Senior Dan Bertolini went 2-for-5 with a double, two stolen bases, an RBI and run scored. Freshman Jonathan Keppler also went 2-for-5 with a double, run scored and a steal. Jamie Walczak totaled two hits and a stolen base, as well.

In the nightcap, John Mang (1-5) turned in a solid performance, allowing one run on three hits through five innings, but the Laker bats were quieted by Gannon's Greg Radwan (2-1), who tossed a complete-game shutout, struck out five and surrendered just four hits.

Gannon's lone run came in the first inning on a Jonathan Dziomba RBI triple. The Lakers stranded two base runners in the fifth and threatened to tie the game in the seventh when Walczak led off with a single and then stole second and third. Radwan managed two strikeouts, and leftfielder Jim Travers saved the win for Gannon with a diving grab on a John Blike line drive to end the game.

Turk, Blike, Walczak and Bertolini each tallied one hit for the Lakers.

Mercyhurst travels to Hillsdale for a four-game series beginning Friday, April 12 at 1 p.m.