Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University softball team was swept by Indiana (Pa.) 14-1 and 8-6 in its final home contests at the Mercyhurst Softball Field.  With the losses, Mercyhurst completes its regular season 20-28 overall and 7-9  in the PSAC.  Indiana finished its season with an overall record of 25-15. 
 
After a sweep of Edinboro on Saturday, Mercyhurst clinched a PSAC West playoff spot.  Entering the tournament as the second seed, the Lakers will compete against Kutztown University on Wednesday, May 1 at 1:00 p.m. in Quakertown, Pa.
 
In game one, the Lakers suffered a 14-1 loss to the Crimson Hawks after allowing 15 hits.  Offensively, Mercyhurst was held to three hits with junior Courtney Smith driving in the only run for Mercyhurst in the five inning affair.
 
Freshman Kayla Larson led off the bottom of the third with a single up the middle.  Larson was advanced to second by freshman Allison Yule, who laid down a sacrifice bunt. Smith followed with a hit to push Larson across.  Courtney Smith went 1-for-2 in game one with one RBI.  Larson also went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
 
The Crimson Hawks Jasa Mitchell went 3-for-3, driving in three runs.  Mitchell and Christi Poates hit back to back solo homeruns in the top of the third. 
 
Senior Megan Hopton took the loss on the mound, completing just one inning.  She allowed five hits and five runs with one strikeout.  Junior Colleen Griffin and Chelsea Calabro also made appearances on the mound. 
 
Game two brought a little more excitement as the Lakers battled back to knot the contest in the bottom of the fifth.  Indiana (Pa.) led 5-1 after scoring three runs in the top of the fifth.

Mercyhurst loaded the bases in the bottom half.  Freshman Taylor Jezuit knocked in a run on an IUP error.  Courtney Smith had another RBI to make the score 5-3 before freshmen Allison Yule and Jezuit crossed the dish on wild pitches by Indiana (Pa.) pitcher Stefanie McCoy.
 
The Crimson Hawks answered quickly with three runs in the sixth.  The big hit came from McCoy, who stroked a two-out,  two-run single.
 
The Lakers tried to rally in the seventh and had a run in with two outs.  Courtney Smith drew a walk and senior Molly McNamara ran for her.  Junior Shaina Bunker singled to right center to put runners at the corners.  McNamara crossed the plate on a wild pitch, but that was as close as Mercyhurst would get.
 
Sophomore Annie Truelove took the loss after pitching six innings.  Truelove gave up ten hits andfive earned runs. She recorded five walks and three strikeouts.

The Lakers will make their fourth straight appearance to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoffs.  The Lakers face Kutztown University for the first time this season after finishing second overall in the PSAC West.  First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1 in Quakertown, Pa.