Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ERIE, Pa. - One day after losing a pair of conference games at Lock Haven, the Mercyhurst University baseball team returned the favor on Saturday afternoon, knocking off the Bald Eagles by the scores of 6-0 and 8-2. The wins improved Mercyhurst's overall record to 21-13 and evened its conference mark at 6-6. Lock Haven dropped to 11-14 overall and moved to an identical 6-6 record in the PSAC West.

In game one, the Lakers got another strong outing on the mound from redshirt sophomore Jon Klein, who pitched his second consecutive complete-game shutout, and timely hitting from junior third baseman Joe Pantano, who went 3-for-3 with three runs batted in during the opener.

Klein, a native of Cheektowaga, New York, allowed five hits and walk in picking up his third victory of the season. The righthander struck out five. Since allowing a season-high five runs against California (Pa.) on March 24, Klein has pitched back-to-back shutouts, allowing nine hits and two walks over his last 14 innings. He has lowered his season earned run average from 4.50 to 2.92 over his last two outings.

The righthander would receive all of the offense he would need in the bottom of the third inning when the Lakers scratched across two runs against Lock Haven starter Parker Watson. Pantano singled with one out to start the rally and then advanced to second on a walk to senior Zak Blair. Freshman Brendan Cox singled to load the bases with one out. Watson issued a free pass to sophomore Jake Marinelli to plate the first run of the game and then sophomore Ryan Siegel followed with an RBI groundout for the Lakers' second run of the inning.

Mercyhurst would add two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Back-to-back walks to the 8-9 hitters in the Laker lineup - junior Anthony Tomasone and freshman Stephen Scaccia started the offense. After a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Kolin McMillen advanced both runners 90 feet, Pantano laced a single up the middle to drive in both Tomasone and Scaccia for a 4-0 advantage.

The Lakers added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI triple by McMillen and an RBI single by Pantano.

Klein pitched around two Lock Haven hits in the seventh to preserve the shutout.

Pantano had three hits and three runs batted in to pace the Laker offense. Cox chipped in with two hits. Every offensive starter factored into the offense in some way during game one - seven of the nine players had at least one hit, with Marinelli and Tomasone the only ones not to record a safety. However, Marinelli drove in a run with his bases-loaded walk and Tomasone scored a run on Pantano's single in the fourth.

Watson went three and one-third innings for Lock Haven and allowed four runs on six hits. He walked five and struck out one.

In game two, senior Matthew Jimenez took to the hill. The righthander ran into problems in the first inning, giving up a run on two hits as Lock Haven took a 1-0 lead.

But, Jimenez settled into a groove after the first and the Laker bats would take full advantage.

In the bottom of the second inning, Mercyhurst would score four runs on just one hit, taking advantage of two Bald Eagle errors to take a 4-1 lead. Marinelli led off the inning with a single down the left field line. Then, on identical plays, Siegel and freshman Hank Morrison would lay down sacrifice bunts only to be thrown wide of first base by the Lock Haven third baseman Anthony Kyne. The errant throws loaded the bases for the Lakers with nobody out. Then, back-to-back walks to Tomasone and Scaccia plated the first runs of the game for Mercyhurst. McMillen and Pantano would follow with RBI fielder's choice groundouts to score two more runs.

Jimenez retired 13 consecutive Lock Haven hitters after allowing the run in the top of the first inning. In the sixth, however, Jay Hartman led off the frame with a solo homerun over the left field fence, cutting the Mercyhurst lead to 4-2. Jimenez would pitch around another hit later in the inning, keeping the two-run lead.

The lead would balloon to 8-2 when the Lakers plated four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. McMillen would plate the first run of the game when he laid down a squeeze bunt to score Tomasone, who led off the inning with a single. Cox would follow, later in the frame, with an RBI groundout, extending the lead to 6-2. Siegel then drove home a pair with a two-run double to the left center field gap for the final margin.

Junior Tanner Delahoy came on in the seventh, in a non-save situation, and pitched a perfect inning, striking out two. Delahoy has been nearly unhittable for the Lakers out of the pen, allowing just one hit in 11.1 innings (.030 batting average). He has walked four and struck out 16, earning four saves in the process.

Jimenez pitched six strong innings to even his record at 4-4 on the year. The righthander allowed two runs on four hits. He walked one and struck out four, throwing only 72 pitches in his outing.

Madison Neddo went the distance for Lock Haven, allowing eight runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits. He walked five and struck out three.

Blair led the way with two of Mercyhurst's six hits in game two.

The Lakers will play back-to-back doubleheaders against Slippery Rock next Friday and Saturday, April 12 and 13. The Lakers will host The Rock on Friday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Baseball Field for a 1:00 p.m. start time. The teams will then travel south on I-79 to Slippery Rock on Saturday, also for a 1:00 p.m. start.