HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Mercyhurst University baseball team improved to 5-0 on the young season after posting a 7-4 victory at Coker College on Monday afternoon at Tom J. New Field. The Cobras dropped to 6-11 on the season.

The Lakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning courtesy of four hits. Senior Angel Martinez started the rally with a single and advanced to third on a one-out hit by junior Brendan Cox. Junior Dan Popio drove home Martinez for the game's first run on a sacrifice fly. With two outs in the inning, back-to-back hits by senior Giancarlo Saia and junior Hank Morrison drove home Cox for the second run of the frame.

Coker cut the Laker lead in half in the bottom of the second inning with a run on two hits against Mercyhurst starter, senior Joe Gnacinski. But, the Lakers answered with a run in the top of the third to regain the two-run lead. Martinez singled to lead off the frame and then scored on an RBI triple by Popio.

It was Popio's second triple of the young season.

The Cobras tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth against Gnacinski and then took a 4-3 advantage in the bottom of the sixth with a single run off Laker reliever, junior Ben Nolan.

However, Nolan slammed the door the rest of the way and the Laker offense responded with four runs over the final three innings for the come-from-behind victory.

In the top of the seventh, Martinez came through with his third hit of the game - an RBI single that drove home freshman pinch runner Collin Fantaskey. Cox then put the Lakers in front for good with a sacrifice fly to left field, driving home Martinez.

The Lakers added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth thanks to an RBI single from Saia and a run-scoring fielder's choice off the bat of Morrison.

Mercyhurst had 16 hits from its offense in the victory - three each from Martinez, Cox, and Saia. Redshirt senior Ryan Siegel added a pair of hits and also scored twice while Popio and Morrison each drove home two. The top five hitters in the Laker lineup combined to go 12-for-22 with six runs scored and five runs batted in.

On the mound, Gnacinski worked the first five innings and earned a no-decision. He allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits, did not walk a batter, and struck out three. Nolan earned the victory in relief, tossing the final four innings and allowing a run on five hits. He also did not issue a walk and struck out five.

Mercyhurst returns to action on Tuesday, March 10 against Pfeiffer University in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.