Complete Box Score

PAINESVILLE, Ohio - Senior Ethan Santora and freshman Jake Marinelli each had three hits and combined to drive in four runs as the Mercyhurst University baseball team defeated Lake Erie College 12-5 on Wednesday afternoon in the final non-conference game of the regular season for the Lakers. Mercyhurst is now 29-11 on the season, while the Storm dropped to 18-16.

Marinelli came into the game just 1-for-9 on the season, but established career highs with three hits and three runs batted in. He started the game 0-for-2 in his first two plate appearances on Wednesday, but went 3-for-3 in his final three at-bats to help the Lakers pull away from the Storm.

Santora had his fourth three-hit game of the season and his second in the last four games, while senior Matt Adamczyk drove in three runs, marking the fifth time this season he has driven in at least three runs. Adamczyk upped his season total to 40 RBIs this season, which leads the squad.

Mercyhurst scored two runs in the top of the first inning against Lake Erie starter Michael Backes on an RBI single by Santora and on an error by the Storm's left fielder Zach Mosbarger off the bat of Adamczyk.

Mosbarger made amends in the bottom of the frame, leading off with a single off of Mercyhurst starter, junior Matthew Jimenez. Mosbarger would advance to second on an error by junior Andrew Fitzpatrick and then would score on a single by Matt Toth.

Adamczyk extended the Mercyhurst lead to 4-1 in the top of the third inning after his single plated both Santora and freshman Ryan Siegel. Adamczyk would come around to score later in the inning on a wild pitch by Backes for a 5-1 Laker advantage.

Lake Erie would get a run back in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI groundout by Matt Vanni. But, Mercyhurst would respond with three runs in the top of the fifth to take an 8-2 lead. Marinelli had the big blow with a two-run single, scoring Santora and sophomore Colin Loughner. Freshman Jake Janeczko would then plate Fitzpatrick with a groundout to shortstop.

The Lakers were not done, tacking on four runs in the top of the sixth inning for a commanding 12-2 advantage. Senior Shane Latshaw led off the inning with a double and would score when Siegel tried to sacrifice him over to third. The Lake Erie pitcher, Tyler Minnich, threw the ball past the first baseman allowing Latshaw to score Mercyhurst's ninth run of the game. Adamczyk would drive home a run with a sacrifice fly, followed by an RBI single by Marinelli, and a bases loaded walk to freshman Kolin McMillen.

Lake Erie would score three runs in the bottom of the seventh to cap off the scoring off of Mercyhurst reliever, senior Jeremy Cressley. A two-run double by Josh Crout would be the only hit of the inning. A double steal, three walks, an error, and two balks would aid in the Storm's rally attempt.

Cressley got out of the seventh and freshman Dan Altavilla and senior Samuel O'Neill slammed the door shut in the final two innings to close out the game.

Jimenez scattered nine hits in six innings of work, allowing two earned runs to improve to 4-0 on the season. He did not walk a batter and struck out five. Cressley allowed three runs (two earned) in his inning, while Altavilla and O'Neill each pitched around a walk in the eighth and ninth innings respectively. They both struck out two in their inning of work.

Mercyhurst will return home, and will return to conference play, when the Lakers host Clarion in a doubleheader on Friday, April 20. Game one will begin at 1:00 p.m.