Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst University baseball team saw its six-game winning streak come to an end on Tuesday afternoon when it was swept by the visiting Crimson Hawks of Indiana (Pa.) at the Mercyhurst Baseball Field. The visitors won a slugfest in game one by an 8-6 final and then came-from-behind for an extra-inning 5-4 victory in game two. With the losses, Mercyhurst dropped to 15-7 overall and 7-3 in the PSAC West. IUP improved to 11-12 overall and 5-5 in conference play.

In game one, the Crimson Hawks got back-to-back walks to start the game against Mercyhurst starter, sophomore Cam Knott. After retiring the next two batters, Knott allowed a two-out, two-run single by Jonathan O'Neill to give the Crimson Hawks a 2-0 lead.

Mercyhurst responded with a run in the bottom of the first against IUP starter Kyle Zambanini thanks to an RBI double to the left center field gap by sophomore Dan Popio, which drove home redshirt junior Ryan Siegel who reached on a single with one out.

Knott ran into more trouble in the third inning as the Crimson Hawks touched up the Laker righthander for three runs to take a 5-1 lead. IUP was aided by two Laker errors on a sacrifice bunt that allowed the first run of the frame to score. The second run came across on a wild pitch by Knott while the final run of the inning scored on an RBI single by Aaron Lupia.

But, again, Mercyhurst answered, this time with three runs in the bottom of the third, all with two outs, to cut the lead to 5-4. Junior Angel Martinez led off the inning with a single and, after senior Joe Pantano struck out, advanced to second on a grounder to second by Siegel. Sophomore Brendan Cox came through with a single back up the middle to score Martinez. Popio followed with his second RBI double in as many at bats to cut the lead to 5-3. Popio came around to score on a single by junior Jake Marinelli to cap off the inning.

IUP scored three more times in the fourth on RBI singles by Ryan Uhl, Austin Mock, and O'Neill against Knott to reclaim its four-run lead at 8-4. The fourth proved to be the final inning for Knott, who allowed eight runs (six earned) in four innings. He walked three and struck out two.

Mercyhurst got a run back in the bottom of the fourth inning thanks to an RBI double by Siegel.

Sophomore Ben Nolan came on in relief of Knott and slammed the door shut on IUP, allowing only one walk in three innings of work. He struck out three and gave the Lakers an opportunity to chip away at an 8-5 IUP lead. Mercyhurst had an opportunity in the fifth against Crimson Hawk reliever Zach Chinchilla, loading the bases with two out and Martinez at the dish. But, the junior second baseman struck out on four pitches ending the Laker threat.

The Lakers did get a run in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Crimson Hawk lead to 8-6 on an RBI single by Cox. But, Popio grounded into an inning-ending double play to erase the threat.

Chinchilla retired Mercyhurst in order in the seventh to get the win in relief. He went three and one-third innings and allowed one run on four hits while striking out two. Knott was saddled with the loss, as he dropped to 1-2 on the season.

Siegel, Cox, and Popio each had two hits in the loss.

In the nightcap, sophomore Colin McKee took the mound and, after a perfect 1-2-3 first inning, ran into issues in the second. IUP scored three times on three hits, after McKee retired the first two batters of the inning, to take a 3-0 lead. Hunter Bigler had a two-run double for the big blow of the frame.

Mercyhurst responded with four runs in the bottom of the second inning against IUP starter Demetrius Christofes. The Lakers loaded the bases with two outs and Pantano drove in the first run after getting hit by a pitch. Siegel followed with a two-run single to knot the score at 3-3 and putting runners at the corners. Siegel broke for second during Cox' at bat and O'Neill elected to throw through to second. Siegel was safe at second and the throw down allowed Pantano to steal home for the fourth run of the inning.

It remained a 4-3 Mercyhurst advantage until the top of the seventh inning when IUP was able to scratch across a run to tie the contest. Sophomore Jake Hall started the inning and allowed his only hit of the afternoon - a leadoff double by pinch-hitter Aaron Lupia. Redshirt junior Jon Klein relieved Hall and allowed a sacrifice bunt and then a single to Chris Calliari to tie the game.

Mercyhurst could not score in the bottom half, sending the game to extra innings, where IUP scored in the top of the eighth against Klein, who allowed a leadoff single, and senior Tanner Delahoy. Delahoy could not keep IUP off the board, allowing a go-ahead single to Mike Lupia which scored Austin Mock. Delahoy got out of the inning with no further damage setting up the bottom of the eighth.

The Lakers got two runners on thanks to a hit batter and a walk to bring up Martinez with one out. Martinez hit a 1-1 pitch on the screws right back up the middle that IUP reliever Zach DeTillio snared out of mid-air and doubled up pinch-runner Stephen Scaccia at first to close out the ballgame.

Klein took the loss in relief after he was charged with the fifth run of the game. He dropped to 2-3 on the season. McKee went four and one-third and allowed three runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out four. Hall pitched an inning and two-thirds and allowed one run on one hit while striking out four.

Martinez had two hits while Siegel had two runs batted in to lead the offense.

Mercyhurst returns to action on Friday, April 4 with a home doubleheader against PSAC newcomer, Pitt-Johnstown. First pitch from the Mercyhurst Baseball Field is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.