Mercyhurst 4, Seton Hill 2
Seton Hill 6, Mercyhurst 5

GREENSBURG, Pa. – Mercyhurst avoided the series sweep against Seton Hill by taking the first game of a twinbill by a 4-2 count before falling in the nightcap by a 6-5 decision. 

The Lakers (17-17, 10-6 PSAC West) snapped a three-game winless skid with the victory while handing the Griffins (25-12) their first loss in five games and second in the last 12. 

Mercyhurst's offense was led by Bill Gerstenslager, who went 3-for-7 with two runs scored, while adding home runs from Kevin McCall, Adam Gray and Ethan Santora. 

In the opener, McCall's homer in the first inning helped ignite the Lakers' offense as they scored two in the second inning and added another in the fifth. 

In the second frame, Adam Schlessel drove in a run on a fielder's choice while Justin Urschel's sacrifice fly gave the Lakers a 3-0 advantage. 

The fourth and final Mercyhurst run came via a Seton Hill error which scored Kenny Walrond after he singled, then advanced to second on McCall's single and reached third on a wild pitch. 

Lakers' starter Jordan Backes improved his record to 5-2 on the year after going six scoreless innings, holding the Griffins to four hits while striking out four batters and walking five. Jeremy Cressley earned the save for the Lakers, working two-thirds of the final inning, holding SHU to no hits. 

For the Griffins, Josh Guthrie fell to 3-2 on the year, allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits in 4 1/3 innings of work. 

In the second half of the doubleheader, the Lakers spotted the hosts a three-run first inning and a three-run third inning for a 6-2 advantage. Mercyhurst then rallied for three runs in the fifth but could not push across the tying run despite having runners on first and second with one out. 

Santora started the rally with his sixth home run of the season, improving his career total to 22 and tying him with Mark Mattson for the second-best total in Mercyhurst history. Then, back-to-back doubles by Gerstenslager and Urschel, followed by a single from Greg Turk completed the Lakers run production in the fifth inning. Pinch-hitter McCall added a single to move Turk to second, but Turk would be caught stealing at third and Thomas Kufel struck out to end the Lakers threat. 

Rookie Ben Rawding drops to 2-4 on the year after going 3 1/3 innings, allowing six runs, five earned, on eight hits while striking out four. Scott Knoche added 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, holding the Griffins to just two hits while fanning two. 

Counterpart Andrew DiNardo improved to 4-1 on the year, throwing 4 1/3 innings and holding the Lakers to four runs, three earned on six hits while striking out two and walking one. Jon Murphy earned his fourth save of the year. 

The Lakers return to action on Tuesday, April 13th when they travel to Lake Erie for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.