Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ERIE, Pa. - Junior Giancarlo Saia had a performance he will never forget as he lifted the Mercyhurst University baseball team to its second consecutive sweep of Gannon University on a rain-delayed Friday afternoon at Gannon University Field. The Mentor, Ohio native drove in seven in the Lakers' 14-4 game one victory over the Golden Knights and then drove in five more in Mercyhurst's game two win, 11-1. With the victories, Mercyhurst has now won six straight and improved to 15-5 overall and 7-1 in the PSAC West. The Golden Knights fell to 6-16 overall and 2-6 in conference play.

All told, Saia went 6-for-9 with three runs scored, two doubles, one home run, and 12 runs batted in as the Lakers exploded for 25 runs in the two games on Friday. In game one, the leftfielder went 2-for-4 with seven runs batted in, including a grand slam home run in the top of the seventh inning. He followed that up with a 4-for-5 performance in game two, including two runs scored and five more RBIs.

In his first season with the Lakers, Saia is tied for the team lead in batting with a .373 average. He now leads the squad with six doubles, two home runs, and 23 runs batted in. His slugging percentage of .576 also leads the squad this season.

The Lakers' 14 runs in the opening game on Friday was the team's second-highest total of the season, but marked the most runs scored in a seven-inning contest this year. Mercyhurst scored 15 runs in the team's season opener against Post University on February 22.

However, it was the Golden Knights that struck first in the opener, plating a run in the bottom of the first inning against Laker starter, junior Joe Gnacinski. Gannon's Jared Wiesen led off with a double and eventually scored on a wild pitch by the Mercyhurst righthander.

The Lakers started their barrage in the bottom of the third, scoring three times against Gannon starter Matt Tobin. Saia got Mercyhurst on the board with a bases loaded walk, which was followed by a two-out, two-run single by sophomore Hank Morrison to give Mercyhurst a 3-1 lead.

Mercyhurst extended its lead to 4-1 in the top of the fourth inning when senior Joe Pantano laced a single to left field that scored senior Anthony Tomasone. But, the hosts tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning with three runs against Gnacinski. Aaron Cox drove in the first run of the frame with an infield single and Zach Ranta followed with a two-run double to left center.

But, the Laker bats scored the final ten runs of the game over the last two innings to break open the tie. In the sixth, Tomasone led off with his first collegiate home run which was followed by a double from junior Angel Martinez to end Tobin's afternoon. Matt Wilwohl entered and the roof caved in for Gannon. After getting the first two outs, Wilwohl allowed an RBI double by sophomore Brendan Cox, back-to-back walks to sophomore Dan Popio and junior Jake Marinelli, a two-run single by Saia, and an RBI base hit from Morrison before getting the final out of the frame.

Mercyhurst went back to work in the seventh, plating five more runs against Wilwohl. The big blow of the inning was a grand slam home run to center by Saia, capping off his huge first game of the day. Marinelli drove in the other run of the inning after getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The Lakers scored their 14 runs on ten hits and a dozen walks. Each Mercyhurst starter contributed with either a hit, a run scored, or an RBI in the opener. In addition to Saia, Morrison had two hits and three runs batted in during the victory. The most interesting line - Popio went 0-for-0 with five walks and scored three times. He also stole a pair of bases.

Gnacinski went five innings and allowed four runs on eight hits for the victory. He struck out seven while not allowing a walk, improving to 2-0 on the year. Sophomore Jake Hall pitched the final two innings and allowed one hit while striking out two.

Mercyhurst provided much of the same in game two, jumping out to a 9-1 lead after four innings and cruising to an 11-1 final. The Lakers scored two in the first on an RBI single by Popio and a run-scoring groundout by Saia. Gannon responded in the bottom half of the inning with an unearned run against Laker starter, senior Tanner Delahoy.

The Lakers scored two more in the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. Saia doubled to left center for the first run of the inning. Junior designated hitter Joe Fontana plated the second run of the frame with an RBI single. The lead ballooned to 9-1 in the fourth when Mercyhurst came up with another five-run inning. Popio singled home junior Ryan Siegel for the first run of the inning. Saia continued his torrid afternoon with a two-run double and junior Angel Martinez ended the frame with a two-run single.

Two more Laker runs crossed the plate in the top of the seventh as Saia drove home his 12th run of the day with a single and sophomore Dan Karstedt plated the final run of the day with an RBI fielders' choice.

Mercyhurst had 16 hits and six walks in game two. The Lakers' 2-3-4-5 hitters (Siegel, Cox, Popio, Saia) combined to go 12-for-18 with ten runs scored and seven runs batted in. In addition to Saia's performance, Popio was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Cox went 3-for-5 with four runs scored.

Delahoy pitched six innings and allowed an unearned run on five hits. He walked three and struck out nine to improve to 3-0 on the season. Senior Dan Parker pitched a perfect seventh inning to close out the contest.

The Lakers are scheduled to return home on Tuesday, April 1 when they host Indiana (Pa.) at the Mercyhurst University Baseball Field for a PSAC West doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 12:00 p.m.