Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

CLARKSBURG, W. Va. - Mercyhurst rode the shutout pitching of senior Eric Aschley in the opener and a 19-hit attack in the nightcap to take a doubleheader from Salem International 5-0 and 14-6 Saturday. The Lakers have won their last three games and are now 11-4 overall. Salem, a member of the West Virginia Conference, fell to 2-14.

Senior infielder Ethan Santora's first inning sacrifice fly gave Aschley an early lead and the Callery, Pa. native did the rest. The 6-2 righthander allowed only four hits, three of them singles, while fanning seven. He also walked two and hit three batters, two of them in the Salem first inning.

The Lakers added another run in the third on a single by senior outfielder Shane Latshaw, an outfield error, and a fielder's choice. They then put the game out of reach with two in the sixth and one more in the seventh. In the sixth, Mercyhurst loaded the bases on singles by Santora, freshman Ryan Siegel and a walk to senior Matt Adamczyk. Sophomore Colin Loughner drove in a run with a sacrifice fly while the other run scored on a fielder's choice. Adamczyk drove in the game's final run an inning later when he drew a bases-loaded walk.

In the second game, the Lakers staked junior lefthander Ben Rawding to leads of 3-0, 5-1, and 6-2 before freshman righthander Dan Altavilla was needed in the fifth to quell a four-run explosion by the Tigers. Mercyhurst broke a 6-6 tie with a run in the sixth and then erupted for seven runs in the seventh.

Mercyhurst took a 1-0 lead in the first. The Lakers loaded the bases with no outs, but the Tigers escaped major damage by getting a double play grounder, during which a run scored, and a strikeout.

Mercyhurst increased its lead to 3-0 in the third on an RBI grounder by junior Zak Blair and an RBI single by Santora. The Tigers scored their first run of the afternoon in the last of the third on a bunt single and an RBI double by senior Nicholas Arena.

The Lakers responded with two in the fourth on a run-producing double by sophomore Anthony Tomasone and an RBI base hit by freshman Kolin McMillen.The Tigers reached Rawding for a run in their half of the fourth on a single and a double, but the Lakers retaliated with a run in the fifth on a Santora double, a base hit by Siegel and an outfield miscue.

Salem International tied the game in the last of the fifth when Rawding suddenly lost his control. The Lakers' starter walked four batters in the inning sandwiched around a single. He was replaced by Altavilla with two outs after surrendering his
second bases-loaded free pass of the frame. Altavilla allowed a two-run single and a walk before getting out of the inning.

Mercyhurst snapped the tie in the sixth on two-out doubles by Latshaw and Blair. The Lakers closed the game with a seven spot in the seventh on seven hits and two Salem International errors. The big hits in the inning were Latshaw's two-run single and and a two-run triple by Blair.

Altavilla allowed two singles in the bottom of the sixth before setting the Tigers down in order in the seventh.   

The Lakers totaled 28 hits in the doubleheader, including five doubles and a triple in the nightcap. Mercyhurst pitchers struck out a combined 17 batters, but walked eight  men and hit four others. Mercyhurst was flawless in the field over the 14 innings of play.

Mercyhurst and Salem will conclude the weekend series with a single game Sunday at 1:00pm.