Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two

ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst University baseball team took over sole possession of first place in the PSAC West with a doubleheader sweep at crosstown-rival Gannon, 2-1 and 14-5, on Friday afternoon. The wins put the Lakers at 34-12 overall and 15-7 in the PSAC West, two games ahead of the Golden Knights, who dropped to 24-20 overall and 13-9 in the conference.

Senior day came one day early for the Lakers, as seniors Ethan Santora and Shane Latshaw had huge afternoons at the plate and senior Eric Aschley gave Mercyhurst a lift with an excellent first-game start on the mound. Santora provided the offense in game one, hitting a two-run home run in the first inning, and then followed that up with a 4-for-5 game two with four runs batted in. Meanwhile, Latshaw was held in check in game one, but exploded for two home runs and five RBIs in the nightcap.

Mercyhurst, who entered the final weekend of the regular season tied with Gannon for first in the PSAC West, needs one victory on Saturday for the team's second consecutive Western Division regular season title.

Game one was a pitcher's dual between Aschley and Gannon's Paul McKenna. The Laker offense came in the top of the first inning and Aschley made it stand. Freshman Kolin McMillen led off the game with a single and then was sacrificed to second by sophomore Anthony Tomasone. After McKenna got Latshaw to strike out, Santora hit his fourth home run of the season, and 32nd of his career, to left field, giving the Lakers a 2-0 advantage. Santora, already the school's all-time home run leader, hit his first home run since March 18 at Pitt-Johnstown.

Aschley was brilliant until the Golden Knights touched him for a run in the sixth inning, cutting the Laker lead to 2-1. Eric Bradley provided the Gannon offense with an RBI single.

After the Lakers went 1-2-3 in the seventh, senior Samuel O'Neill pitched around a walk and a hit batter in the bottom of the seventh, picking up his third save of the season. He got a flyout to right field with runners at second and third to end the contest.

Aschley improved to 6-3 on the season, allowing one run on six hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out ten Golden Knight hitters. Santora and McMillen each had two of Mercyhurst's six hits in game one against McKenna, who went the distance for Gannon.

Mercyhurst again drew first blood in game two with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning, this time off the bat of Latshaw. It was the tenth home run of the season for the senior left fielder. McMillen again started the rally, this time with a leadoff walk against Gannon starter Matt Tobin.

However, Gannon would strike back with three runs in the bottom of the frame against Mercyhurst starter, junior lefthander Ben Rawding. Back-to-back triples by Michael Brosius and Dylan Schwegler would get the Golden Knights on the board. Tim Lipp would tie the game at 2-2 with an RBI single. The third run would score on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Bradley.

Mercyhurst would reclaim the lead at 4-3 in the top of the third inning as Santora continued his hot afternoon with a two-run triple. Tomasone and Latshaw drew back-to-back walks to set up the big hit by the senior.

But, the Golden Knights would not go quietly against Rawding. Gannon would retake a one-run advantage with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, ending the afternoon for the junior lefthander. Lipp drove home a run with an RBI single, tying the game at 4-4. After a ground rule double by Michael Tomko, freshman Dan Altavilla came on in relief of Rawding. After a strikeout, Bradley singled to give the Golden Knights a 5-4 lead. Altavilla would get out of the inning without any further damage, and then would slam the door shut the rest of the way.

Mercyhurst's offense would take full advantage of Altavilla's performance with ten runs in the last two innings, including seven in the top of the sixth inning to take an 11-5 lead. A huge error by Lipp off the bat of junior Zak Blair, who made his return to the Laker lineup, started the Mercyhurst sixth. Sophomore Colin Loughner sacrificed Blair to second, who then advanced to third on a single by junior Andrew Fitzpatrick. Freshman Jake Janeczko tied the game at 5-5 with a sacrifice fly. Mercyhurst then scored six runs with two outs. McMillen hit a single, followed by an RBI double by Tomasone, giving Mercyhurst a 6-5 lead. Latshaw then hammered a three-run home run, his second of the game and 11th of the season, putting Mercyhurst ahead 9-5. But, Mercyhurst was not done. Santora and senior Matt Adamczyk followed with back-to-back singles and then were driven home on a two-run double by Blair for the six-run lead.

Mercyhurst tacked on three more runs in the seventh inning. Santora had a two-run single, followed later in the inning by a Blair RBI single. Altavilla then mowed down the Golden Knights in the seventh for the 14-5 victory.

Rawding went three-and-a-third innings and allowed five runs on eight hits. He walked three and struck out three. Altavilla picked up the win in relief to improve to 5-0 on the season, lowering his season ERA to 1.07. He allowed two hits in three-and-two-thirds innings, striking out six and not allowing a walk.

Offensively, Latshaw went 3-for-4 with four runs scored, two home runs, and five RBIs. Santora went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBIs. Blair finished the day 3-for-5 with three RBIs.

The series shifts to Mercyhurst on Saturday, with a doubleheader 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.