Box Score

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Mercyhurst University baseball team split a pair of games on Sunday to conclude competition in the Northeast Challenge at the Cal Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Lakers defeated West Virginia Wesleyan in game one on Sunday by a 3-2 final, getting a strong pitching performance from senior Ben Rawding. However, the Lakers wasted a fine start by redshirt sophomore Jon Klein in game two, losing to Stonehill by a 9-2 margin. Mercyhurst finished the Northeast Challenge with a 1-4 record and is now 3-5 overall on the season.

In game one, Rawding went six strong innings, allowing two runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out eight to improve to 2-0 on the season. The Lakers, in the process, snapped their four-game losing streak, and gave head coach Joe Spano his 399th career victory as the skipper at Mercyhurst. The win extended Rawding's winning streak to 14 consecutive decisions, tying the PSAC record held by Steve Micknich of Mansfield (1992-93). The senior from Beaver Falls, Pa. has not lost a decision since May 11, 2011.

The Bobcats struck first in the contest, plating both of their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning off of the Laker southpaw. Ryan Lewicki led off the inning with a double and then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Rob Stephens. Spencer Webley followed with a single to drive home Lewicki. Then, after a groundout, Colin Gotham drove in the second run of the inning with a two-out single to give West Virginia Wesleyan a 2-0 lead.

Mercyhurst would get a run back in the top of the fifth inning with a two-out rally. After sophomore Kyle Hagerich and junior Anthony Tomasone both made outs to start the frame, three consecutive singles by junior Adam Urschel, sophomore Kolin McMillen, and junior Joe Pantano got Mercyhurst on the board.

The Lakers would tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning. Sophomore Ryan Siegel led off the inning with a single and then moved up ninty feet on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Joel Yeagley. Freshman Brendan Cox followed with an RBI single, plating Siegel for the tying run.

Rawding would get out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth and the Lakers would respond with the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh. Tomasone reached first after being hit by a pitch to start the inning, then advanced to second on a sacrifice by Urschel. McMillen grounded out to second, moving Tomasone to third with two outs. Pantano then came up with a clutch, two-out triple to score Tomasone for what proved to be the winning run.

Junior Tanner Delahoy came on in relief of Rawding to start the bottom of the seventh and picked up his second save of the season, going three innings and allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out three.

Mercyhurst outhit the Bobcats 11-7 in the contest, getting two hits apiece from Pantano and Urschel.

In game two, Mercyhurst led 2-0 heading to the top of the eighth inning, but Stonehill would score seven times in the eighth, and would add two more in the ninth to put away the Lakers, wasting a solid pitching performance from Klein.

Klein was cruising along, allowing only two hits through the first seven innings of the contest. At one point, the redshirt sophomore retired 13 Stonehill batters in a row after allowing a two-out single to Billy Karalis in the top of the first inning.

Then, disaster struck. Klein started the eighth and allowed a single, a walk, and another single to load the bases, ending his afternoon. Freshman Cam Knott came in with a bases loaded, nobody out situation, and did not record an out. He allowed a two-run single to Chris Callahan to start his outing. Then, after Christian Baglini reached on an error, a bases-loaded walk to James DeAlto, and a two-run double to Karalis, ended Knott's day. Junior Jon Corbi came on and gave up a sacrifice fly from Dan Fratus and an RBI single to Michael Zeiner before closing the inning.

Freshman Kyle Toma pitched the ninth for Mercyhurst and allowed two runs on four hits.

Mercyhurst plated its only runs in the bottom of the first inning off of Stonehill starter Mike Krupczak. Pantano drew a one-out walk to start the rally and then promptly stole second. After a popout by senior Zak Blair, Siegel doubled to drive home Pantano. Hagerich followed with an RBI triple to score Siegel for the Lakers' final run of game two.

The Lakers were limited to six hits by Stonehill pitchers, two from McMillen.

Klein finished by going seven innings, pitching to three batters in the eighth. He allowed four hits and three runs, all earned. The righthander walked one and struck out seven. Knott gave up four runs (two earned), allowing two hits and a walk in the four batters he faced. Corbi went an inning and allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two.

Mercyhurst will have a couple of days off as it heads further south to the Sunshine State. The Lakers will play Chestnut Hill in Fort Pierce, Florida on Wednesday, February 27. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.