Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two

CLARION, Pa. - The Mercyhurst University baseball team played to a split on Sunday afternoon at Clarion, winning game one by an 11-5 final, before suffering a 5-4 loss in the second game. Mercyhurst moved to 32-12 overall and 13-7 in the PSAC West. The Golden Eagles moved to 12-28 overall and 9-15 in the western division.

The Lakers enter the final weekend of the regular season tied for first place in the PSAC West with cross-town rival Gannon, setting up a four-game showdown with the Golden Knights next Friday and Saturday to determine the regular season champion. Both teams have identical 13-7 conference marks, while California is in third place just two games back.

Senior righthander Brad Duffy was dealing in game one, limiting the Golden Eagles to one hit and one unearned run in six innings. He walked three and struck out five to improve to 5-1 on the season. However, he was locked in a pitcher's duel with Clarion's T.J. Anderson until Mercyhurst provided him with some offense.

The Lakers plated four runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead. Junior Andrew Fitzpatrick drove home the game's first run with an RBI single, sending home senior Matt Adamczyk. Senior Shane Latshaw then reached on an error by Clarion third baseman Seth Peterson, which allowed both sophomore Anthony Tomasone and Fitzpatrick to score. Freshman Ryan Siegel capped off the inning with an RBI single driving home freshman Kolin McMillen for the 4-0 advantage.

Mercyhurst scored four more runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a commanding 8-0 advantage. Siegel plated two of the four runs with a two-run double, sending home McMillen and Latshaw. Then, Tomasone reached on an error by the left fielder allowing Siegel and Adamczyk to cross the plate.

Clarion would score its only run off of Duffy in the bottom of the sixth inning when Jerico Weitzel stole third base and then scored when Tomasone's throw got past Adamczyk at third base.

The Lakers would add three more in the top of the seventh inning for an 11-1 advantage. McMillen drove home freshman Jake Janeczko with an RBI triple. Siegel then doubled to drive home McMillen, followed by an RBI single from Adamczyk, driving home senior Ethan Santora.

Senior Jeremy Cressley relieved Duffy just to get some work, and the Golden Eagles would touch him up for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to cap off the scoring. The big blow was a three-run home run by Bill Hasson, but Cressley would close off the inning and secure the Lakers' victory.

Siegel went 3-for-5 with four RBIs in game one, while McMillen went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and an RBI in the victory.

The Lakers picked up where they left off in game two, giving senior righthander Zach Leitten three runs to work with in the top of the first inning. Siegel continued swinging a hot bat with an RBI single to right field, which drove home McMillen for the first run of the nightcap. Adamczyk then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Siegel to cross the plate for the second run. Tomasone capped off the inning with an RBI single, driving home Santora.

Clarion, however, would tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning off of Leitten. Matt Rossi would hit an RBI single followed by a two-run double by Josh Beimel.

The Golden Eagles would plate a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings to take a 5-3 lead. Ken Morgan laced an RBI double in the fifth inning, while Scott Berkes plated a run on an error by first baseman Colin Loughner.

Mercyhurst would make things quite interesting in the top of the seventh. Janeczko and McMillen drew back-to-back walks with one out in the inning and Latshaw would cut the lead to 5-4 with an RBI double, putting runners at second and third with one out. Clarion's Jon Kemmer would come in to pitch and would strike out Siegel before retiring Santora on a flyout to center to strand runners at second and third.

Leitten went the distance, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out 10, dropping his record to 3-4 on the season.

Tomasone went 3-for-3 with an RBI at the plate in game two. Latshaw and Siegel added two hits apiece in a losing effort.

The upcoming Mercyhurst-Gannon series will commence at Gannon on Friday, April 27 beginning at 1:00 p.m. The series will then shift to Mercyhurst on Saturday, also beginning at 1:00 p.m. Saturday's doubleheader will also include Senior Day festivities as the Lakers will honor nine seniors between games - Shane Latshaw, Ethan Santora, Jeremy Cressley, Brad Duffy, Jaasiel Rivera, Samuel O'Neill, Zach Leitten, Matt Adamczyk, and Eric Aschley.