Wheeling Jesuit 10, Mercyhurst 8

WHEELING, W. Va. -- Wheeling Jesuit scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth via a Cory Wickham grand slam to complete the come-from-behind victory over Mercyhurst on Tuesday afternoon, taking the single nine-inning game by a 10-8 decision.

The Mercyhurst (21-20) offense exploded for a season-high 19 hits but spotted the hosts an early 6-1 advantage before rallying with three in the sixth and two each in the seventh and nine innings to reclaim the lead.  However, with two outs Wickham put the Eric Aschley offering over the left field line to secure the comeback for Wheeling (16-15).

Greg Turk's RBI-single to score Bill Gerstenslager in the second inning gave the Lakers quick 1-0 lead, but the Cardinals were able to respond with a run in the bottom of the frame, and two in the next and three in the fourth for a 6-1 advantage.

The Mercyhurst bats came alive in the middle innings, with Adam Gray providing a two-run homer in the sixth, followed by an Adam Schlessel double to plate Turk, cutting the WJU lead to 6-4.

In the seventh, the Lakers tied the game thanks to back-to-back RBI doubles by Kevin McCall's and Gerstenslager. 

Then in the ninth, Mercyhurst pushed two more runs across on three hits, including a McCall home run that plated Trey Bennett, for an 8-6 lead before Wickam's grand slam ended the contest.

McCall led the Lakers at the plate with a 2-for-5 day, including three RBI and two runs scored.  He was one of five Mercyhurst players on the day to end with three hits.  Bennett finished with a trio of hits and two runs scored while Gerstenslager added a trio to go along with two runs scored and an RBI.  Gray, Turk and Schlessel rounded out those with three hits.

On the mound, Aschley (2-3) took the loss, giving up four earned runs on four hits in 2 1/3 innings of work.  Joe Cochran pitched three scoreless innings of relief after starter Jeremy Cressley went 3 1/3 innings, allowing six runs, five earned, on seven hits.

The Lakers return to action on Friday, April 23 when they host Clarion in the final weekend series of PSAC play.  They then travel to the Golden Eagles on Saturday where they will look to lock up one of the four conference tournament berths awarded to the Western Division.