Game One - Box Score
Game Two - Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Mercyhurst University baseball team exploded for double-digit run totals in each game of Friday afternoon's doubleheader at Slippery Rock, winning by scores of 10-0 and 19-6. Mercyhurst improved to 28-9 overall and 10-4 in PSAC West action. The Rock fell to 18-19-1 overall and 6-8 in conference play.

Senior Eric Aschley and junior Ben Rawding did their parts on the mound on Friday, limiting Slippery Rock to seven hits in 12 innings between the two. Aschley threw his second consecutive complete-game shutout in game one, limiting The Rock to four hits, while striking out six. Rawding, meanwhile, improved to 8-0 on the season in game two, holding Slippery Rock to one earned run on three hits, while striking out eight in five innings. 

But, the story of the afternoon was the Laker offense, as Mercyhurst exploded for 29 runs and 28 hits in the doubleheader sweep. Most notably was the performance of senior Shane Latshaw, who hit for the cycle in the first game. Latshaw homered in the first inning, tripled in the third, doubled in the sixth, and singled in the seventh to complete the feat. It was all part of a 4-for-4 day in game one for the Laker outfielder. He followed up the cycle with a 2-for-3 outing in game two.

Latshaw gave the Lakers a 2-0 lead in the first inning with his team-leading seventh home run of the season, driving home freshman Kolin McMillen, who led off the game with a single.

Aschley and Zach Jeney went toe-to-toe until the sixth inning, when the Lakers broke through for three more runs to take a 5-0 lead. Latshaw led off the inning with a double and scored on a single by senior Matt Adamczyk. Sophomore Anthony Tomasone then reached on an error by rightfielder Matt Kosik, which scored Adamczyk. Sophomore Colin Loughner followed with an RBI single, driving home Tomasone.

Mercyhurst would then put game one out of reach with five runs in the seventh, all with two outs. Freshman Jake Janeczko led off the inning by reaching on an error. Latshaw then completed the cycle with a one-out single. Senior Ethan Santora drove home the first run of the inning with an RBI single. Tomasone then had the big blow, a three-run double, giving Mercyhurst a 9-0 lead. Loughner then capped off the scoring with an RBI single.

Latshaw went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs in the victory. Adamczyk and Loughner each had two hits apiece in game one.

Slippery Rock jumped out in front 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning of game two. Derek Carr scored on a double play ball off the bat of John Shaffer, giving the home team its first run of the day.

The lead would be short-lived, as Mercyhurst put seven runs on the board in the top of the second inning against Slippery Rock starter Garret Peterson. Junior Andrew Fitzpatrick put Mercyhurst on the board with a two-run single, giving the Lakers a 2-1 lead. McMillen followed with an RBI single and then freshman Ryan Siegel had a bases-clearing double to give the Lakers a 6-1 advantage. Later in the inning, Adamczyk drove home the seventh run of the inning with an RBI single.

Mercyhurst would add three runs in the fourth to take a 10-1 lead. Adamczyk had a two-run double followed by an RBI two-base hit by Tomasone.

After Slippery Rock plated an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth off of Rawding, Mercyhurst exploded for nine runs in the top of the fifth inning for a 19-2 lead. Latshaw started the barrage with an RBI double, followed by a bases loaded walk to Santora. Adamczyk then drew a bases loaded walk for a 13-2 advantage. Tomasone then drove home a pair with a single, followed by an RBI fielder's choice by Fitzpatrick. Freshman Kyle Hagerich pinch hit for Janeczko and promptly launched his second homer of the season, a three-run blast to left field to close out the scoring in the inning.

Slippery Rock would score four runs in the seventh inning off of Mercyhurst reliever Dan Parker, but the damage had already been done.

Rawding went five innings for his eighth win of the season. Freshman Mike Wagner pitched a scoreless sixth inning, allowing just a walk. Parker ran into trouble in the seventh, allowing four runs on five hits. Sophomore Nick Cianci struck out Carr to prevent further damage and to close out the win.

Adamczyk was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBIs. Santora also had three hits, while Latshaw, McMillen, Tomasone, and Janeczko had two hits apiece.

The Lakers will be back in action on Saturday for a doubleheader against Slippery Rock at the Mercyhurst Baseball Field. Game one is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.