Mercyhurst 3, Gannon 2
Mercyhurst 15, Gannon 10

Merciad Game of the Week Video

ERIE, Pa. –  The Mercyhurst College softball team earned a sweep of a twinbill against rival Gannon with two come-from-behind victories Thursday, April 1. The Lakers won the first game, 3-2 with a three-run sixth inning, and battled back from a 10-4 deficit in game two to down the Golden Knights, 15-10.

Mercyhurst is now 15-15, 2-2 in PSAC West play following the sweep, while Gannon falls to 12-13, 0-6 in divisional competition.

In game one, each pitcher held the opponent scoreless through five innings. Gannon's Kristin Schalk led off the top of the sixth inning with a home run, giving the Golden Knights 1-0 lead. The Lakers responded in the bottom of the sixth when Anna Glomb lined a double into the gap, driving in three runs for a 3-1 Mercyhurst advantage.

Gannon bounced back in the seventh inning with a solo shot from Sarah Rinks, closing the gap to one run at 2-1 with one out. Amanda Norman pitched in relief of Kristi Janoske, retiring two batters for her first save of the season.

Janoske (7-10) earned the win, allowing two runs on five hits in six and one-thirds innings. Megan Dragon went the distance, giving up three runs on five hits, fanning eight.

The second game featured a nine-run Gannon third inning and Mercyhurst chipping away with runs in each inning played. Mercyhurst scored 15 runs on 21 hits, while Gannon notched 10 runs on 14 hits.

Freshman pitcher Megan Hopton held the Gannon hitters scoreless over her four and one-thirds innings pitched, earning her second collegiate win in relief. She allowed three hits, striking out three batters. Kelsey Brickman allowed eight runs on 11 hits, and Dragon (7-5) drew the loss.

Emily Redig batted 5-for-5 for the Lakers with four runs scored. Michelle Schmitz hit 3-of-5 with three RBI. Amber Rapose, Julie Harmon, Elizabeth Maier and Kara Gorgos all recorded two hits.

Mercyhurst scored one run in the first inning, which was answered with one Gannon run in the top of the second. The Lakers then took a 4-1 lead with RBI hits from pinch hitters Megan Houston and Erica Beidler, as Beidler plated a pair with a two-out double.

The first 12 Gannon batters reached in the top of the third inning. By the time Mercyhurst had recorded two outs, Gannon had scored nine runs to take a 10-4 lead. With one runner on and two outs, the Lakers went to Hopton, who earned the third out, closing the door on Gannon's big inning.

Rapose led off the bottom of the third with a homer, and the Lakers trailed 10-5 after three. After Hopton pitched a 1-2-3 fourth, the Lakers scored four runs to edge to within one run at 10-9 after four innings. Schmitz blasted a three-run homer, followed by a solo home run from Jen Bower.

Mercyhurst scored four runs in the fifth inning, capped by an RBI single from Glomb for a 13-10 Laker lead. The Lakers added two in the sixth for a 15-10 victory.

Mercyhurst's 21 hits tied a season high, set March 1 at Ave Maria.

The Lakers next play at Edinboro Friday, April 2 at 2:30 p.m. Edinboro is currently 10-9, 2-2 in divisional play.