Mercyhurst 3, Lynn 1

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Kevin McCall's 2-RBI double in the fifth and Justin Urschel's RBI ground-out in the eighth inning lifted the Mercyhurst College baseball team to a 3-1 victory over host Lynn University in the Lakers first game of the 2011 Palm Beach Challenge.

The Lakers (3-1) pounded out 12 hits in the nine-inning contest while limiting the 2009 National Champion to seven hits. The Fighting Knights (5-6) scored their only run of the contest in the eighth inning after Anthony Boza's sacrifice fly plated Mike Diorio.

McCall's double scored Jonathan Keppler and Shane Latshaw, who both reached after recording back-to-back singles. In the eighth, Ethan Santora struck out swinging but reached first safely after a passed ball by the Lynn catcher. Craig Denman's single moved Santora to third, setting up Urschel's RBI.

Senior southpaw Nick Gillung picked up his second win of the season after allowing five shutout innings of work, limited Lynn to just three hits while striking out five Fighting Knights. Tyler Bowditch and Ben Rawding combined in the relief effort, with Bowditch working three innings and allowing one run on four hits while fanning three batters. Rawding earned the save after throwing a hitless ninth inning, giving up just one walk while striking out one batter.

Offensively, McCall was one of two Lakers to post multiple hits on the day after going 3-for-5. Denman led Mercyhurst with a perfect day at the plate going 4-for-4, including two doubles, while Zak Blair, Bill Gerstenslager and Santora rounded out the Lakers who hit safely.

Mercyhurst returns to action tomorrow for another nine-inning game against Lynn. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.