Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Mercyhurst University baseball team finally got a chance to play against Winston-Salem State on Tuesday afternoon and walked away with a split in a doubleheader against the Rams. Mercyhurst took game one by an 11-3 final before suffering a 7-1 setback in the nightcap. The Lakers are 6-2 on the season.

Mercyhurst used ten hits and seven walks to pound out 11 runs against three Winston-Salem pitchers in the opener.

It was the hosts, however, that would jump in front 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning courtesy of a bases-loaded walk from Laker starter, Cam Knott. But, Mercyhurst responded with three runs in the top of the second inning to take a 3-1 lead. Junior catcher Jake Marinelli started the rally with a run-scoring double and then was followed by a two-run double by junior Angel Martinez

The Rams plated a run in the bottom of the second to cut the Laker margin to 3-2 on a leadoff home run. Mercyhurst blew open the contest, however, with a run in the top of the third, two in the fourth, and five in the fifth to jump in front 11-2.

Junior Giancarlo Saia had an RBI single in the third inning to give Mercyhurst a 4-2 advantage. Senior Joe Pantano and sophomore Brendan Cox added run-scoring base knocks in the fourth to extend the Lakers' lead to 6-2. In the five-run fifth inning, Martinez had an RBI single, Pantano followed with a bases-loaded walk, redshirt junior Ryan Siegel added a two-run single, and Cox finished off the outburst with a run-scoring single.

Winston-Salem added a single run in the bottom of the seventh against Laker reliever Jordan Bray for the final margin of game one.

Martinez led the Laker offense with three hits in four trips. He scored two runs and drove in three. Cox had a pair of hits and two runs batted in while Siegel and Pantano also added two RBIs apiece.

Knott evened his record at 1-1 on the season by allowing two runs on four hits in four innings. He walked three and struck out three. Senior Adam Curyto pitched two scoreless innings of relief, giving up two hits and a walk. Bray finished the day by pitching the seventh where he allowed a run on one hit and a walk.

The Lakers did manage eight more hits in the second game, but could plate one run in dropping game two by a 7-1 decision.

Mercyhurst scored its only run of the nightcap in the top of the first inning when sophomore Dan Popio singled home Pantano. Popio finished game two with two hits in four at bats. Pantano went 2-for-3.

The Rams scored at least one run in each inning from the second through the sixth to put away the Lakers in game two.

Senior Jon Corbi got the start and lasted just three and two-thirds innings. He allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits while walking four and striking out four. Sophomore Jake Hall closed out the contest on the hill, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits in the final two and a-third innings. He walked one and struck out one.

The Lakers and the Rams will conclude the three-game series with a single, nine-inning game on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.