Complete Box Score

MURFREESBORO, N.C. - The Mercyhurst baseball team scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to come-from-behind and defeat Chowan University 7-5 in a single, nine-inning game on Sunday afternoon. The Lakers remained unbeaten on the season, improving to 3-0, while the Hawks dropped to 3-6 on the year.

Redshirt freshman Ryan Siegel, in just his third game with the Lakers after transferring from Coastal Carolina, had the huge blow with a bases-clearing double in the four-run ninth inning. Mercyhurst started the ninth trailing 5-3, but got back-to-back singles from freshman Kolin McMillen and senior Shane Latshaw to lead off the inning. Back-to-back walks to redshirt junior Zak Blair and senior Ethan Santora cut the Chowan lead to 5-4. Siegel then doubled to right center, driving home Latshaw, Blair, and Santora for the 7-5 advantage.

Freshman Dan Altavilla, who came on in relief in the bottom of the sixth inning, finished off the Hawks in the ninth, pitching around two walks in the last frame for his first collegiate victory.

Chowan took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a run-scoring single by Colby Wiggins off of Mercyhurst starter Brad Duffy. Duffy lasted just two innings on a cold, overcast afternoon in North Carolina. The senior allowed one hit and two walks in his two innings of work. Duffy struck out three batters.

The Hawks extended the lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning against reliever, Matthew Jimenez. Wiggins reached on an infield single to lead off the inning and then scored on a two-out single by Josh Catalano.

Mercyhurst would break through with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning, tying the game at 2-2. Sophomore Colin Loughner was hit by a pitch with one out and then went to third on a double by sophomore Anthony Tomasone. McMillen then laced a double down the right field line, driving home both Loughner and Tomasone.

The Lakers then took a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning when Loughner drove home junior Andrew Fitzpatrick with a one-out single.

But, the Hawks responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame, against Jimenez, to take a 5-3 advantage. Brett Overton tied the game at 3-3 with a one-out RBI single and then Catalano knocked home a pair with a single later in the inning. Altavilla came in to put out the fire, setting up the ninth inning heroics by the Laker offense.

McMillen went 3-for-5 with a run scored and two runs batted in, while Siegel, the hero of the afternoon, finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Catalano and Wiggins each had two hits for Chowan in defeat.

Altavilla pitched three-and-a-third innings allowing just one hit. He walked four and struck out four for his first career win. Jimenez allowed four runs on six hits and five walks in three-and-two-thirds innings in relief of Duffy.

Three Chowan pitchers combined to allow seven runs on 11 Mercyhurst hits in the game. Ryan Moore was tagged with the loss, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks in three-and-two-thirds innings. He dropped to 1-1 on the season.

The Lakers (3-0) will now have some time off until their annual spring trip to Florida. The Lakers will open up with a single game against Lynn University on Thursday, February 23 in Lake Worth, Florida. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.