Salem, Va. – The Mercyhurst softball team earned a split of two games Saturday in Va., defeating host institution Salem International 23-0 in five innings before falling to Shepherd 10-7 in nine innings. The Lakers are now 9-9 on the season, with one game remaining before conference play begins Tuesday. 

Against Salem International, Mercyhurst looked to avenge a 5-4 loss from Friday, March 13. The Lakers scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back, plating five in each of the second through fifth innings, racing to a 23-0, five-inning victory. 

Katherine Tompkins, Amber Rapose and Megan Houston each belted a home run against SIU, while Erica Beidler, Kara Gorgos and Anna Glomb registered one double apiece. Kristi Janoske pitched two scoreless innings, while Kari Amboyer worked three scoreless innings. The Lakers connected for 19 hits to just two for Salem International. 

Mercyhurst then took on Shepherd in a tightly-contested game. The Lakers got on the board first with one run in the bottom of the opening frame. Shepherd took a 2-1 lead with runs in the fourth and sixth innings, and Mercyhurst score one run in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings. 

Each team plated four runs in their respective half of the eighth inning, using international tie-break rules, and the score stood at 6-6 going into the ninth. Shepherd matched its seventh-inning total with four more runs in the ninth, and Mercyhurst answered with just one run, falling 10-7 in nine innings.
Shepherd recorded 10 runs on 16 hits, while Mercyhurst scored seven runs on seven hits. 

Jen Bower and Michelle Schmitz each slugged a home run against Shepherd. Houston legged out a triple, and Emily Redig registered a double for the Lakers. Janoske took the loss, pitching the final one and one-thirds innings. 

The Lakers' 23 runs against Salem International marked the highest single-game total since Mercyhurst defeated Pitt-Bradford 25-0 April 9, 1988. Also, Mercyhurst's 30 runs scored Saturday were the most in one day since the team scored 32 runs combined in wins over Regis in 1990. 

Mercyhurst concludes the Salem International tournament Sunday, March 22 at 1 p.m. against West Va. Wesleyan. The Lakers will begin PSAC West play with a double-header at California (Pa.) Tuesday, March 24, with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.