Game One - Box Score
Game Two - Box Score

ERIE, Pa. - One day after scoring 29 runs and pounding out 28 hits in a doubleheader sweep at Slippery Rock, the Mercyhurst University baseball team's bats went cold on Saturday, losing a twinbill at home to The Rock by the scores of 2-0 and 5-3 in eight innings. The losses left Mercyhurst at 28-11 overall and 10-6 in PSAC West action. Slippery Rock improved to 20-19-1 overall and 8-8 in conference play.

Mercyhurst currently finds themselves in a three-way tie for first place in the PSAC West standings with a 10-6 conference mark. The Lakers are tied with cross-town rival Gannon and California in the standings, two games ahead of Slippery Rock and three games clear of Lock Haven.

Slippery Rock's Lou Trivino held Mercyhurst's offense to two hits in game one, carrying a no hitter for five-and-two-third innings before giving up an infield single to freshman Ryan Siegel with two outs in the sixth. Sophomore Colin Loughner had the other hit for Mercyhurst, a solid single up the middle in the seventh.

Trivino walked three and struck out seven to improve to 7-2 on the year.

Mercyhurst senior righthander Brad Duffy suffered the tough luck loss, dropping to 4-1 on the season. Duffy allowed two runs on six hits, walking two and striking out five. He allowed a run in the first inning on an RBI single by John Shaffer, then allowed a tally in the seventh inning on a run-scoring hit by Austin Benshadle.

The Lakers' best chance to score came in the fifth inning. Senior Ethan Santora broke up Trivino's perfect game with a leadoff walk and then advanced to third when senior Matt Adamczyk reached on an error by the third baseman, with Adamczyk advancing to second. With runners on second and third an nobody out, Trivino got sophomore Anthony Tomasone to pop out in foul territory. He then walked Loughner to load the bases with one out, but struck out junior Andrew Fitzpatrick and freshman pinch-hitter Kyle Hagerich to end the Laker threat.

Mercyhurst jumped out to a 3-0 lead in game two, scoring all three runs in the bottom of the second inning off of Slippery Rock starter Nic McCowin. Tomasone was hit by a pitch to start the rally, and then advanced to second on a single by Loughner. A walk to Fitzpatrick loaded the bases with one out, and freshman Jake Janeczko came through with a two-run single, giving the Lakers their first runs of the day. Freshman Kolin McMillen then hit a sacrifice fly to right field for the third run of the inning.

Mercyhurst starter Zach Leitten and the Mercyhurst defense gave the lead right back in the top of the third inning. Back-to-back singles to lead off the inning started the frame and then a throwing error by Santora on a grounder to short allowed the first run to score. The second run of the inning scored on a wild pitch on a swinging strike three, and then Slippery Rock tied the game on an RBI groundout. Only one of the three runs in the inning was earned.

McCowin was pulled after two innings and in came John Kovalik, who slammed the door shut on the Laker offense. Kovalik pitched six scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two Mercyhurst hits and a walk in the final six innings. Leitten also pitched brilliantly for Mercyhurst, keeping Slippery Rock off of the bases. In fact, after Slippery Rock scored three times in the third, Leitten retired 11 straight batters before allowing a one-out single in the seventh inning.

But, the game went to extra innings, and in the eighth, Slippery Rock broke through. Benshadle drew a one-out walk and then stole second base. Benshadle slid awkwardly into second base, and had to be carried off the field, prompting a several minute delay. The delay appeared to shake up Leitten and the Lakers. On the first pitch after the injury, Leitten uncorked a wild pitch allowing pinch-runner Kyle Schneider to advance to third. Derek Carr then singled to right, driving home Schneider for a 4-3 Slippery Rock lead. Then, during an at bat by Ben Bechtol, two passed balls and a wild pitch allowed Carr to come all the way around to score the second run of the inning.

Mercyhurst went quietly in the bottom of the eighth inning against Kotalik, and Slippery Rock came away with the sweep. Leitten went the distance and allowed five runs (two earned) on four hits. He walked three and struck out three. He dropped to 3-3 on the season.

The Lakers will get right back into action on Wednesday afternoon with a non-conference game at Lake Erie College. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Mercyhurst returns home on Friday, April 20 for a PSAC doubleheader against Clarion. Game one is slated to start at 1:00 p.m.