No. 10 Millersville 14, No. 17 Mercyhurst 3
LANCASTER, Pa. – No.10 Millersville pushed across 14 runs on 20 hits to eliminate No. 17 Mercyhurst from the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament and clinch its second trip to the Division II College World Series.
The Lakers (42-12) needed to win the first game of the day to force another game in the double-elimination tournament but the Marauders (43-10) bats proved to be the difference-maker.
Millersville struck early, putting five on the board in the second off starter
Matthew Jimenez before adding one in the third for a 6-0 lead.
Mercyhurst was able to cut the deficit to 6-2 after the fifth when
Jonathan Keppler and
Zak Blair provided RBI-singles. However, the Marauders powered back with seven in the sixth inning to break the game open.
Blair's bunt-single in the fifth was his 76
th on the year, tying the Lakers' single-season mark set in 2009 by
Jamie Walczak.
Notes:
Seniors Adam Brentlinger, Craig Denman, Jonathan Keppler, Kevin McCall, Justin Urschel, Nick Gillung, D.J. Haurin, Scott Knoche, Thurman Schaetzle and Nick Scheetz all played in their final game as a Mercyhurst Laker. The class posted a four-year record of 133-76.
Mercyhurst finished with a program best 42 wins (42-12).
The Lakers have now finished second in the NCAA Atlantic Region twice in the last three seasons.
Mercyhurst won its first-ever PSAC Tournament championship to earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament for the eighth-time in program history.
The Lakers won their second PSAC West regular-season title in three years as full-time members of the league.
