Box Score

MURFREESBORO, N.C. - The Mercyhurst University baseball team managed just one run on four base hits in a single, nine-inning game on Sunday afternoon, as the Hawks of Chowan University knocked off the Lakers 5-1 in game three of the series to avoid a weekend sweep. Mercyhurst, which swept Chowan on Saturday by the scores of 5-2 and 6-5 to open the season, dropped to 2-1 on the young campaign. The Hawks, meanwhile, improved to 2-7 on the season.

Chowan's Ryan Moore was dealing all afternoon and went the distance on Sunday to earn his first victory of the season. Moore limited Mercyhurst to one run on four base hits while walking two and striking out eight. The Lakers could manage just three baserunners after plating their only run of the game in the top of the second inning.

Mercyhurst scored its run when junior transfer Adam Urschel drew a one-out walk, stole second, and then advanced to third on a groundout by freshman Hank Morrison. Sophomore catcher Jake Marinelli drove home Urschel with a single up the middle.

The hosts did most of their damage in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring four of their five runs on the afternoon. Evan Seymour drove home the tying run with a sacrifice fly to center field off of Mercyhurst starter - senior Matthew Jimenez. After Blake Leebrick singled in the next at bat, Jimenez was lifted for freshman Cam Knott, who entered with runners at the corners and one out. Leebrick promptly stole second. Tht was followed by an RBI single by Colby Wiggins and an RBI double by Josh Catalano, giving Chowan a 3-1 lead. Brandon Mack followed with an RBI double, plating Wiggins, before Knott finally retired the last two batters on a strike out and a fly out.

Chowan added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning off of junior transfer Braedon Pennington. Justin Shockley came through with a one-out, pinch-hit double to drive home Evan Holton for the Hawks' fifth run.

That would be all Moore would need as he retired the Lakers in order in both the eighth and ninth innings to seal the victory.

Marinelli, Morrison, junior transfer Joe Pantano, and freshman Brendan Cox had the four hits for Mercyhurst.

Jimenez was saddled with the loss in his season debut on the mound. He lasted just three and a-third innings and allowed three runs, all earned, on seven hits. He walked two and struck out two. Knott was charged with one run in one and two-thirds innings. He allowed three hits and struck out two. Pennington allowed a run in two innings of work, striking out one. Sophomore Jon Klein pitched the final inning and retired the Hawks in order, striking out one.

Mercyhurst will have a little time off before its spring trip, which begins on February 21. The Lakers will play five games in four days in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina from February 21 through February 24 in the Northeast Challenge - a wooden bat tournament. Mercyhurst will then head further south for five games in Florida beginning on February 27.