ERIE, Pa. – Senior Samantha Eimers went a perfect 4-4 during today's twinbill against Clarion University helping Mercyhurst University sweep the Golden Eagles by scores of 9-0 and 10-2 respectively.

The sweep moves the Lakers to 17-12 on the season and improves them to 4-0 in conference west play.  Mercyhurst dropped Clarion to 6-8 overall on the season and 1-3 in the conference.

Eimers helped set the tone for the rest of the day with her very first at bat.  The Lakers' leadoff hitter worked the count well before driving a 3-1 pitch over the center field wall. 

One run would be all freshmen Annie Truelove would need as she pitched a three-hit gem. Truelove worked both sides of the plate efficiently keeping batters off balance through the entire game.  The complete game shutout marks the Columbus, Ohio native's first of her young career.  The win helps her move to 5-5 on the season and lowers her ERA to 4.64 on the season. 

Although Truelove needed just one run, the Lakers added eight more throughout the next three innings. 

In the bottom of the second inning, senior Emily Redig reached base on an error by the Golden Eagles shortstop.  Senior Jen Bower stepped to the plate next and belted a two-run homer to left center field.  The offense didn't stop there for the Lakers as junior Kristen Fyffe roped a double down the left field line.  Fyffe stole third setting up a sacrifice fly by freshman Lauren Rossi.  Eimers took to the plate and walked on four pitches, she would later score off a single by freshman Shainia Bunker.  For the inning, the Lakers tallied four hits, four runs while leaving two on base.

Back-to-back singles put Bower and Fyffe on base in the third inning.  Senior Andrea Sauers drew a walk setting the stage for pinch hitter, Sydney Cuscino.  Cuscino took advantage of the opportunity and did not disappoint as she drove a pitch over the left field fence for an opposite field grand slam.  The home run marked the senior's first of the season.

Game one ended after the top of the fifth due to the run-rule.

In game two the Lakers jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead after the first inning.  Eimers scored on a fielder's choice by Bunker.  The Golden Eagles second baseman made a nice play to end the Lakers threat in the first after turning a double play.

Clarion knotted the game up in the top half of the third inning but Mercyhurst would reply by pushing five runners across the dish in the bottom of the frame.  Sauers started the inning with a single to right field.  Eimers then sent a laser to right center scoring the run from first as she legged out a triple.  The Ripley, N.Y. native scored later on an error by the Golden Eagles third baseman.  Sophomore Megan Smith kept the rally alive with a single into left field scoring junior Molly McNamara from second base.  After a successful stolen base attempt by Smith, Redig drove a single up the middle, scoring Smith.  Redig advanced to second after the throw to home was made in the attempt to throw out Smith, setting up a RBI for Bower after she lined one back up the middle.  All told, the Lakers totaled five runs off of six hits in the third.

Clarion began to rally in the top of the fourth but with one out, Fyffe caught a fly ball in right field then displayed her arm strength throwing out the tagging runner at home plate for the unconventional double play. 

The game would end in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Lakers scored four runs, activating the run-rule.
 
Senior Kristi Janoske pitched five solid innings in her start, giving up just two runs on six hits.  Junior Megan Hopton came in for relief in the sixth not allowing a hit or a run in the inning of work.  Janoske was credited with the win, her sixth of the season bringing her record to a 6-2 showing.

For the doubleheader, Eimers went 4-4 with five runs scored and three RBI's.  She also recorded three stolen bases.  Eimers singled, doubled, and tripled in game two, missing the home run to complete the cycle.  Bower went 3-5 with two runs scored a homer and three RBI's.  Sauers registered two hits in three at bats while crossing the plate twice.  McNamara used her speed to reach base in today's effort, going 3-5 with one run scored.  Redig displayed a 3-7 approach to the plate scoring twice and registering one RBI.  Cuscino laced a grand slam in one-of-two plate appearances giving her four RBI's on the day.

The Lakers carry a four-game winning streak into downtown Erie on Friday, March 30 as the Lakers take on rival Gannon University.  The double feature is set for a 2:30 start.