ERIE, Pa. -- The No. 30-ranked Mercyhurst College baseball team split its league-opening doubleheader at city-rival Gannon University, falling in the first game 5-1 before rebounding with a 6-3 win in the nightcap.

The Lakers (14-4, 1-1 PSAC West) were held to just five hits in the opener by Gannon starter David Hucsko.  The senior threw his first career complete-game against Mercyhurst, walking one and striking out just one while stifling the Lakers' offense. 

Meanwhile, Mercyhurst southpaw Nick Gillung (4-1) suffered his first defeat of the season after striking out 10 batters in six innings of work.  The senior allowed five runs, three earned on four hits and walked two.

Offensively for Gannon, Michael Tomko's three-run homer in the bottom of the first proved to be all the Golden Knights needed.  Mercyhurst scored its lone run with two outs in the top of the third inning. The Lakers used a throwing error, a walk and a single up the middle to plate the run.

Mercyhurst quickly jumped on the board in the second game with a pair of two-out runs in the top of the first inning. Bill Gerstenslager's double drove home Ethan Santora, who reaced on a fielder's' choice and Kevin McCall's single up the middle plated Gerstenslager.

Gannon responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the second before Mercyhurst tied the game at three when Zak Blair blasted the first pitch of the fifth inning out of the ballpark.  The Lakers took reclaimed the lead on back-to-back two-out RBI singles by Jonathan Keppler and Blair in the sixth inning.  Craig Denman's RBI-single to score Gerstenslager, who doubled to left to start the inning accounted for the final run.

Tyler Bowditch earned the win for the Lakers after coming on in relief of starter Zach Leitten and Samuel O'Neill earned his second save of the season.

The Lakers return to the diamond tomorrow for the final regular-season series against Gannon.  First-pitch at Mercyhurst Field is set for 1 p.m.