Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University baseball team took a hit in both the PSAC West standings and in the regional rankings on Friday afternoon after getting swept in a doubleheader by crosstown-rival Gannon University. The Golden Knights scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning of game one to come-from-behind for a 7-4 victory over the Lakers then completed the sweep with a 7-2 win in game two. With the losses, Mercyhurst dropped to 28-16 overall and 13-9 in the PSAC West. Gannon improved to 21-13 overall and 13-5 in the conference.

The Lakers have just two more conference games remaining in the regular season, with those coming on Saturday afternoon against the Golden Knights at the Mercyhurst Baseball Field. The other teams in the west still have one weekend of competition remaining after Saturday. After Friday's results, Mercyhurst sits four games behind Gannon in the loss column, two behind California (Pa.), one behind Slippery Rock, tied with Indiana (Pa.), and one ahead of Lock Haven.

In game one, Mercyhurst threatened in the top of the first inning against Gannon starter Aaron Cox. The Lakers loaded the bases on a hit and two walks with just one out. However, sophomore Jake Marinelli struck out swinging and sophomore Ryan Siegel lined out to Gannon second baseman Taylor Anderson on a diving snag that saved a pair of runs.

The hosts broke through in the bottom of the second, getting an unearned run against Mercyhurst starter Dan Altavilla. After the sophomore hit Aaron Cox with a pitch to lead off the inning, Jeff Bellanca attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt. The bunt was hard and right back to the mound, but Altavilla's throw sailed into center field, putting runners at the corners with nobody out. Cox later scored on an RBI groundout by Shayne Herold.

In the top of the third inning, Mercyhurst tied the game at 1-1 on an RBI single from freshman Brendan Cox. Sophomore Kolin McMillen led off the inning with a bunt single, but was erased on a fielder's choice bunt attempt by junior Joe Pantano. Senior Zak Blair struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch, but Pantano stole second base on the pitch, setting up Cox' run-scoring single through the left side of the infield.

Gannon recaptured its one-run lead in the bottom of the third. Anderson led off the inning with a double to right field, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and then scored on an RBI infield single from Michael Tomko.

The Lakers took their first lead of the afternoon in the top of the fifth inning, plating three runs to take a 4-2 advantage. Junior Anthony Tomasone, hitting in the #9 hole, singled to right field to start the rally. McMillen then dropped a sacrifice bunt that was kicked by the Gannon pitcher, Aaron Cox, putting runners at first and second with nobody out. Both runners advanced to scoring position after a sacrifice bunt by Pantano. Blair was intentionally walked to get to Brendan Cox, who came through with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Tomasone, which could have been much worse for Gannon had Schwegler not come up with a great diving catch. Marinelli followed with a double down the left field line, scoring McMillen, for Mercyhurst's first lead of the afternoon. Three pitches later, Aaron Cox uncorked a wild pitch to score Blair for a 4-2 Laker lead.

The Golden Knights rallied in the bottom of the sixth thanks to some wildness by Laker pitchers. Altavilla walked Tomko and then hit Baldelli with a pitch to end his afternoon. Junior Tanner Delahoy came on in relief and promptly walked Aaron Cox to load the bases with nobody out. Bellanca drove home Gannon's first run of the inning with an RBI fielder's choice.

Then, the roof caved in on Delahoy and the Lakers.

The junior closer entered the contest having allowed one hit in 13.1 innings of work this season, but gave up three runs on three hits in the inning. Herold had the big hit of the frame, lacing a two-run double to the right-center field gap, giving Gannon its one-run lead back. The Golden Knights scored two more runs on an RBI groundout by Anderson and an RBI single by Jared Wiesen to take a 7-4 lead and end the scoring in the opener.

Mercyhurst threatened in the top of the seventh, thanks to a one-out walk to Blair and a double to right center by Brendan Cox. But Marinelli struck out looking and Siegel flew out to end the comeback bid.

Altavilla pitched five innings plus two batters in the sixth. He allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits. He walked three and hit three batters while striking out four. Delahoy was saddled with the loss, dropping to 0-1 on the season. He allowed three runs on three hits in one inning.

Aaron Cox went the distance for Gannon throwing 134 pitches in the process. He allowed four runs (one earned) on six hits. He walked five and struck out eight.

Brendan Cox went 3-for-3 with two runs batted in during the opener.

Gannon picked up where it left off in game two, this time against Mercyhurst starter Ben Rawding. The Golden Knights plated four runs in the bottom of the first inning against the senior southpaw, with free passes again coming back to haunt the Lakers.

Rawding walked the first two batters of the game and then Tomko laid down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by the Laker pitcher but thrown late to third trying to get the lead runner. With the bases loaded and no outs, Baldelli drove home the first two runs of the inning with a double down the right field line. Then, Aaron Cox drove home the third run with a sacrifice fly. Herold followed with an RBI double to right field to plate the final run of the first.

The lead ballooned to 5-0 in the bottom of the third inning when Mark DeVita tripled to right center field to drive home Aaron Cox.
Mercyhurst would get a run back in the top of the fourth inning on a solo blast to right field from Siegel. It was his first home run of the season and just the third by a Laker hitter this season, joining freshman Hank Morrison and sophomore Kyle Hagerich.

The Lakers had an opportunity in the top of the fifth inning to put a crooked number on the scoreboard, but Herold did a fine job of pitching to limit Mercyhurst to just a run, cutting the deficit to 5-2. McMillen singled up the middle with one out to start the rally then advanced to second after Pantano was hit by a pitch. Blair singled to load the bases with one out and Brendan Cox followed with an infield single to drive home the Lakers' only run of the inning. However, Herold avoided further damage by retiring Marinelli on an infield pop and Siegel on strikes.

Gannon scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning against Rawding on a two-out, two-run double by Baldelli.

Rawding went the distance for the Lakers and allowed seven runs on ten hits. He walked three and struck out six. The lefthander dropped to 9-2 on the season and 30-7 in his career. The ten hits and seven earned runs allowed were both career-worsts for Rawding. He had allowed six earned runs against Salem International on March 10, 2012 and allowed nine hits on two different occasions during his freshman season. Meanwhile, Herold went the distance for Gannon and allowed two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out seven to improve to 8-0 on the year.

Six different Lakers had hits in game two with Brendan Cox and Siegel driving in the only runs.

The teams will conclude the season series on Saturday at the Mercyhurst Baseball Field. It will also serve as Senior Day for the Lakers as Mercyhurst will honor Rawding, Blair, Matthew Jimenez, and Donald Bowes between games. First pitch of game one is slated for 1:00 p.m.