Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Mercyhurst University baseball team split a pair of contests on Friday, losing at Lynn University by a 4-2 final before bouncing back with a 12-1 victory over Queens College. The Lakers moved to 5-7 on the season. Lynn improved to 9-6 while Queens dropped to 0-3.

In game one, the Lakers led 2-0 heading to the bottom of the fourth inning after plating single runs in each of the first two innings. Mercyhurst got its first run on an RBI groundout from senior Zak Blair in the top of the first inning, driving home sophomore Kolin McMillen, who led off the game with a double.

In the second, freshman Joel Yeagley led off the inning with a double and then scored on an RBI single from freshman Brendan Cox.

Lynn took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning getting the big blow of the contest with two outs - a three-run homer by Sal Giardana, Jr. off of Mercyhurst starter, senior Matthew Jimenez.

The Fighting Knights would add another run in the bottom of the fifth inning for the final tally of the contest.

Jimenez went six innings and allowed four runs on five hits. The senior righthander walked four and struck out three. He dropped to 0-2 on the season. Freshman Jake Hall pitched two perfect innings of relief, striking out two.

In game two, the Lakers' bats exploded for a season-high 12 runs, scoring at least one run in each of the first six innings of the contest, including two runs in each of the first four.

Cox had a two-run single in the Lakers' first inning to give Mercyhurst a 2-0 lead. Blair and junior Joe Pantano each had RBIs in the second - Pantano on a bases-loaded walk and Blair on a sacrifice fly.

In the third, sophomore Jake Marinelli had an RBI single and Cox would later score on a passed ball. Cox would again strike in the fourth inning with a two-run single, giving the Lakers an 8-0 advantage.

Mercyhurst would score a single run in the fifth, thanks to a bases-loaded walk to Cox. Then, the Lakers would tack on two more runs in the sixth inning on an RBI single by sophomore Ryan Siegel and another bases-loaded walk to Cox.

The Lakers scored their final run of the game in the eighth on an RBI double by freshman Hank Morrison.

Cox finished the game going 4-for-4 with a run scored and six runs batted in. Blair went 3-for-3 at the dish with three runs scored and an RBI. Siegel also chipped in with a pair of hits in the victory.

Redshirt sophomore Jon Klein went the first five innings on the hill to pick up his first win of the season. He allowed no runs on just four hits while walking one and striking out six. Junior Nick Cianci pitched the sixth inning and gave up Queens' only run of the game - an unearned tally. He walked one and struck out two. Freshmen Ben Nolan and Kyle Toma, along with junior Dan Parker, closed out the contest with seven combined strikeouts over the last three frames.

Mercyhurst will play Queens again on Saturday beginning at 11:30 a.m. to close out the spring trip in Florida.