Complete Box Score

LAKE WORTH, Fla. - Sophomore Dan Parker pitched seven innings in his first collegiate start, allowing one run on three hits, and senior Shane Latshaw hit his first home run of the season, leading the Mercyhurst baseball team to an 8-1 victory over SUNY Canton. The Lakers, who have now won three straight, improved to 6-2 on the season.

Parker, a 6-6, 215-pound righthander from Marilla, pitched just two-and-a-third innings as a freshman a year ago, made his first appearance of the season on Monday afternoon a good one, with all of the damage he allowed occurring during the fourth inning.

Mercyhurst dented the scoredboard in the top of the third inning with a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead. Latshaw led off the inning with his first home run of the season. Later in the inning, Matt Adamczyk drove in Zak Blair with a run-scoring double.

Latshaw, who was the team's leading hitter a year ago, hit four home runs last season. He is currently hitting .371 through eight games this season.

SUNY Canton would get its only run of the game in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single by Jared Marckese.

The Lakers would get two more runs in the fifth inning to take a 4-1 advantage. Ryan Siegel hit a one-out triple and then scored on a base hit by Adamczyk. Colin Loughner would double Adamczyk home for the second run of the inning.

Mercyhurst would blow the game open with four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. An RBI groundout by Loughner, an RBI single by Andrew Fitzpatrick, a sacrifice fly by Kolin McMillen, and an RBI triple by Latshaw provided the offense for the Lakers.

Jeremy Cressley pitched the eighth inning allowing just a walk. Nick Cianci pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning, with two strikeouts, to close out the contest.

McMillen had three more hits, giving him 18 in his first eight collegiate games. Five players had two hits apiece, as the Lakers rapped out 15 hits on the afternoon.

Parker walked four and struck out three in his seven innings of work. 

Mercyhurst will have a day off and then will play Palm Beach Atlantic on Wednesday, Febraury 29 beginning at 6:00 p.m.

NOTE: After the victory, Mercyhurst assistant coach Charlie Spano has now been on the Laker staff for 300 career victories. His brother, Joe, is the all-time winningest coach in program history with 363 career victories.