Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ERIE, Pa. – Three different Lakers drove homeruns over the center fence to lead the Mercyhurst Lakers to a sweep over Clarion at the Mercyhurst Softball Field Friday afternoon.

The Lakers improved to 5-5 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division and are now 11-15 overall this season. Clarions fell to 1-16 overall after the losses and are 0-10 in the PSAC West. 
 
With the sweep, the Lakers went 4-0 against the Golden Eagles throughout the regular season series.  Mercyhurst outscored Clarion 31 to eight and outhit the Golden Eagles 38 to 19, including a 17 to 6 ratio Friday afternoon. 
 
Senior Megan Smith opened up the scoring in game one with a double to right field to drive in two RBIs.  The Lakers earned a 4-0 early leadin the first after senior Kayleigh Milliman and sophomore Allison Yule hit two more RBIs in. 
 
The Golden Eagles crossed the dish for their first time during the double header after Christina Tressler drew a walk to lead off the fourth inning.   Clarion's Taylor Powell followed with a single to right field to allow Lydia Middaugh ground out for a run scored by Tressler.
 
After leading 4-1 heading into the bottom of the six, Mercyhurst finished strong with three runs off three hits at their final at bat.  Freshman Khyshwaunna Nance led off the inning with a one out single off of a bunt down the middle of the field.  She would beat out the throw at second and advance to third off of a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Courtney Brothers. 
 
With two runners on, Megan Smith sailed the ball to left center to mark her team-lead fourth homerun of the season and complete the 7-1 victory.  Smith finished game one going 2-for-4 at the plate with 5 RBIs. 
 
Junior Annie Truelove (5-9) pitched seven complete innings, giving up three hits for one run and five strikeouts.  Her counterpart, Shawnna Crago, (1-6) allowed eight hits for six earned runs and two strikeouts.
 
In game two, freshman Francesca Costanzo drilled the ball to left center to mark her first collegiate grand slam and first homerun of the season.  Costanzo tallied her only hit of the contest with two outs at the bottom of the first but drove in three Lakers, DiBartolomeo, senior Courtney Smith, and Nance, in the process. 
 
At the bottom of the second, senior Kayleigh Milliman struck the ball to right center field to mark her second homerun of the season on a solo shot.  Yule gave Mercyhurst a 6-0 lead after a right field double that allowed Megan Smith to cross the dish, before Courtney Smith drilled back-to-back hits for a 7-0 lead.
 
Clarion's top hitter Christina Tressler drilled a solo homerun with two outs against pitcher Alexandra Puckly at the top of the fourth inning to muster some offense from the Golden Eagles bench.  The Lakers however tallied two more runs on three hits after a double by junior Becky Malaga and a sacrifice fly by Courtney Smith.
 
Lakers' pitcher Puckly picked up her sixth win of the season (6-4) after allowed just three hits for one run and collected five strikeouts.  Clarion's pitcher Chelsea Zola suffered her second loss of the season (0-2) after allowing six hits for seven runs and one walk.  Paige Baker came in for the relief for Clarion, giving up three hits for two runs and collected two strikeouts.
 
Mercyhurst continues action tomorrow, Saturday, April 12 at Slippery Rock, Pa.  The Lakers will face Slippery Rock University for the first time this season in a doubleheader.  First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.