ERIE, Pa. - Thanks again to strong pitching performances from redshirt sophomore Colin McKee and redshirt senior Jon Klein, the 21st-ranked Mercyhurst University baseball team continued the best start in program history with a doubleheader sweep at Gannon University on Sunday afternoon. The Lakers took game one by a 5-2 decision and then completed the sweep with a 3-1 victory in game two. Mercyhurst improved to 17-1 overall and 9-1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division while Gannon dropped to 10-14 overall and 2-8 in conference play.

McKee, in his first season as a Laker starter, improved to 4-0 in game one after allowing three hits in six scoreless innings. The righthander walked two and struck out a career-high 12 batters.

In four starts this season, McKee has allowed 11 hits and 11 walks in 25 innings while striking out 39 batters. He has a 1.08 earned run average and has limited opponents to a .131 batting average this season.

The Laker offense gave McKee everything he needed in game one with a three-run third inning against Gannon ace, Aaron Cox. Senior Angel Martinez led off the inning with a single but then was forced out at second when redshirt senior Ryan Siegel tried to bunt him over. Junior Brendan Cox singled up the middle to advance Siegel to third. After Cox stole second base, junior Dan Popio drove home both Siegel and Cox with a single to center, giving the Lakers a 2-0 lead. Senior Giancarlo Saia drove home Popio with a run-scoring single later in the frame.

Mercyhurst made it 4-0 in the top of the fifth inning with an unearned run. Cox reached on a two-out single, stole second, and then came around to score on two Golden Knight throwing errors.

Popio extended the lead to 5-0 in the top of the seventh with a sacrifice fly, driving home Martinez who reached on an error earlier in the inning.

Gannon broke up the shutout bid with two runs in the bottom of the seventh against Laker reliever, junior Jake Hall. Jared Wiesen drove home both runs with a two-out, two-run double.

Popio led the Laker offense with three hits in three at bats. He also scored a run and drove in three. Cox had two hits and scored twice in the victory.

Mercyhurst outhit Gannon, 10-5, in the opening game and Laker pitchers struck out 15 Golden Knight batters.

Klein took the bump in game two and continued his torrid start to the season. While he did allow his first earned run of the season, Klein allowed only four hits and a walk in the complete-game win. Like McKee, he also struck out a career-high 12 batters.

In four starts this season, Klein is 4-0 with a 0.36 earned run average. He has allowed 11 hits and four walks in 25 innings while striking out 39 batters. He also has limited opponents to a .131 batting average.

Mercyhurst broke a scoreless tie in game two with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning against Gannon starter, Aaron Jackson. Sophomore Cameron Balego broke through with an RBI single, driving home junior Hank Morrison who led off the frame by reaching on an error. Later in the inning, Siegel drove home the other run with an RBI single, plating Balego.

Saia gave the Lakers a 3-0 lead in the top of the sixth when he reached on a one-out double and then scored on a Gannon error.

Gannon scored the first earned run against Klein in the bottom of the sixth inning, snapping a 23 and one-third scorless inning streak to start the season for the righthander. Nick Restuccia led off the inning with a triple and then scored on a single by Charles Benack.

But, Klein slammed the door with a perfect 1-2-3 seventh inning to preserve his fourth victory of the season.

Balego and senior Jake Marinelli had two hits apiece as the Lakers, again, outhit Gannon, 6-4, in game two.

Mercyhurst will return to action on Monday, March 30 with a doubleheader against Gannon at the Mercyhurst Baseball Field. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.