Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Mercyhurst University baseball team used another strong pitching performance from redshirt sophomore Jon Klein in game one to knock off Slippery Rock by a 1-0 final. However, in game two, the Lakers' comeback bid fell a run short, as The Rock rebounded for a 4-3 victory to salvage one game of the four-game series. Mercyhurst moved to 24-14 overall and 9-7 in the PSAC Western Division. Slippery Rock is 22-14 overall and 5-5 in the conference.

Klein was sensational in game one for the Lakers, pitching six-plus shutout innings. The Cheektowaga, New York native has not allowed a run in his last three starts and now has a consecutive scoreless streak of 20 innings.

The righthander allowed four hits and two walks while striking out three batters, but had to rely on junior Tanner Delahoy to bail him out in the seventh. Klein started the seventh inning, but gave up a leadoff double and then a walk to start the frame, ending his afternoon. Delahoy, who has been nearly unhittable this season, was just that on Saturday to pick up his fifth save of the season. Delahoy got two groundouts and a flyout to end Slippery Rock's comeback attempt.

Delahoy has allowed one hit in 12.1 innings, limiting opponents to an .028 batting average this season.

Mercyhurst gave Klein the only run he would need in the top half of the fifth inning. After Slippery Rock starter Kyle Schneider retired the first two batters of the inning, sophomore Kolin McMillen started the rally with a double to left field. The Laker first baseman would advance to third on a passed ball and then would score on an RBI single from junior Joe Pantano for the only run of the game.

The Lakers, after accounting for just six hits combined in Friday's doubleheader, had nine hits in the opening game on Saturday. McMillen and Pantano led the offense with two hits apiece.

Schneider went the distance for The Rock, scattering nine hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out nine Laker hitters.

After the first three games of the series saw just five total runs, the teams combined for seven runs in the final game of Saturday's twinbill. Slippery Rock jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings against Mercyhurst starter, redshirt senior Matthew Jimenez, but then had to hang on for dear life as Mercyhurst attempted its comeback bid. However, the Lakers fell a run short, and Slippery Rock was able to prevent the weekend sweep.

The Rock would plate a run in the bottom of the first against Jimenez. Will Kengor led off the game with a walk and then scored on an RBI double by John Shaffer.

The hosts would tack on three more runs in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead. Run-scoring singles by Kengor and Graeme Zaparzynski plated two of the runs, while the other run scored on an error by senior shortstop Zak Blair.

Jimenez pitched a perfect third inning, but would exit after allowing a double and a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Junior Adam Curyto entered with a runner at third and one out in the fourth. Curyto got a groundout and a flyout to end the inning, then pitched a perfect fifth, and allowed only an infield single in the sixth as the Lakers started their rally.

In the top of the fifth inning, sophomore Kyle Hagerich hammered a one-out offering from Slippery Rock starter Jon Anderson over the left field fence for his first home run of the season, cutting the deficit to 4-1. It was just the Lakers' second round tripper of the season.

Then, in the sixth, freshman Brendan Cox drew a one-out walk to start another rally. Sophomore Jake Marinelli followed with a single, putting runners at first and second with one out. Sophomore Ryan Siegel then singled to load the bases. Junior Anthony Tomasone followed with a two-run double to left field, scoring Cox and Marinelli, to cut the Laker deficit to 4-3. However, Slippery Rock summoned Anton Constantino from the bullpen and the lefthander retired Hagerich and freshman Stephen Scaccia, with runners at second and third, to end the threat.

Pantano would reach base in the seventh inning on an error by the Slippery Rock second baseman with one out. But, Constantino got Blair to fly out and Cox to strike out to close out the contest.

Jimenez dropped to 4-5 on the season with the loss. He went three and a third innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits. He walked one and struck out four. Curyto kept the Lakers in the game, pitching the final two and two-thirds innings. He allowed one hit while striking out three.

Anderson picked up the win, improving to 3-0 on the season for Slippery Rock. He went five and a third innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He walked four and struck out two. Constantino earned his first save of the season out of the bullpen.

Siegel had two of Mercyhurst's six hits in the nightcap.

Mercyhurst will return to action next Friday and Saturday with a pair of PSAC doubleheaders against Clarion University. The teams will meet at Clarion on Friday afternoon, April 19, beginning at 1:00 p.m. The Lakers will host the Golden Eagles on Saturday afternoon from the Mercyhurst Baseball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.