Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

NORTH CANTON, Ohio - The Mercyhurst University baseball team suffered a doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Cavaliers of Walsh University on Tuesday afternoon. The Lakers dropped the first game by a 5-3 final before getting blanked in game two by a 7-0 count. Mercyhurst fell to 30-18 overall on the season while Walsh improved to 22-17.

Mercyhurst dropped to 8-11 on the road in 2013. In contrast, at home or at neutral sites, the Lakers have posted a 22-7 record. Fortunately for Mercyhurst, the remainder of the season will be played at a neutral field starting with the PSAC Tournament next week in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Junior Braedon Pennington dropped to 0-3 on the season in the opener, lasting just three and one-third innings. The lefthander allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits during his outing. He walked one and did not strike out a batter. Freshman Cam Knott did a fine job out of the Mercyhurst bullpen, pitching around two hits over the last two and two-thirds innings.

The Lakers jumped out in front with a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by freshman Brendan Cox. Coxdrove home junior Joe Pantano, who reached on a bunt single.

But, the Cavaliers struck back with two runs in the bottom half on a two-run homer by Forrest Boggs.

The hosts added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, all of which were charged to Pennington. John Stephenson belted a two-run home run to give the Cavaliers a 4-1 lead. The other run of the inning scored on an RBI fielder's choice groundout.

Sophomore Kolin McMillen responded in the top of the fifth inning with his first collegiate home run, a two-run shot to right field, to cut the Walsh lead to 5-3. That, however, would prove to be the final runs of the game.

Mercyhurst made it interesting in the top of the seventh against Walsh closer, Neal Edwards. Freshman Joel Yeagley reached on a one-out single.  Edwards retired junior Anthony Tomasone but issued back-to-back walks to freshman Stephen Scaccia and McMillen to load the bases with two outs. However, he got out of the jam by getting sophomore Kyle Hagerich to ground out to shortstop.

In game two, Walsh scored three times in both the second and third innings en route to the 7-0 shutout victory over the Lakers.

The Cavaliers scored three unearned runs against junior Jon Corbi, who was starting his first game in a Laker uniform. Corbi would not get out of the second inning as he allowed three hits and a walk over his one and two-thirds innings. It was his first loss of the season (2-1).

Junior Adam Curyto came on in relief to get out of a jam in the second. But, he could not finish the third, allowing three runs on four hits in the frame. Freshman Ben Nolan worked out of the third inning jam and then pitched around a walk in the fourth inning. Junior Tanner Delahoy finished the game, pitching the final two innings and allowing a run on one hit. He walked one and struck out three.

Offensively, the Lakers could manage just six hits against three Walsh pitchers, with all six coming against Cavalier starter Brandon Whitslar. McMillen and Cox had two hits apiece in the game two setback.

Mercyhurst will watch how the PSAC unfolds this weekend to determine who its next opponent will be, and when the game wll be played. The PSAC Tournament will be held May 8 through May 11 in Johnstown.