ERIE, Pa. - The old adage states that "good teams find ways to win." The tenth-ranked Mercyhurst University baseball team did it again on Tuesday afternoon.

Trailing 3-0 in the sixth and 4-3 in the eighth, the Lakers mounted another late-inning comeback to knock off the Falcons of Notre Dame College, 5-4, at the Mercyhurst Baseball Field to improve to 25-1 overall on the season. Notre Dame College dropped to 12-9 on the season.

Over the last four games, Mercyhurst, which jumped four spots to #10 in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association (NCBWA) Division II poll earlier on Tuesday, has won in its final at bat. Trailing 2-0 last Friday in game two of a doubleheader against Pitt-Johnstown, senior Giancarlo Saia tied the game with a two-run home run in the sixth and then Mercyhurst scored an unearned run to win 3-2. The following day, Mercyhurst trailed 5-3 in game one at Pitt-Johnstown before scoring three times in the top of the seventh to win 6-5.

And, now, Tuesday afternoon.

Saia pulled Mercyhurst to within 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning with a single that scored senior Angel Martinez who led off the inning with a double to right center.

In the bottom of the seventh, still trailing 3-1, junior Stephen Scaccia drove home sophomore Cameron Balego with a single up the middle to pull Mercyhurst within a run. Later in the inning, Martinez drove home the tying run with a sacrifice fly to right field, plating senior catcher Jake Marinelli.

But, the visitors would not go quietly. With junior reliever Mike Schnurr on the mound, Notre Dame College's Blake Miller put the Falcons back in front, 4-3, with a leadoff home run over the left field fence. Schnurr retired the side in order after allowing the home run.

Notre Dame's Matt Seekins entered in the bottom of the eighth and retired Saia and junior Hank Morrison on a strikeout and groundout. But, a new hero emerged with two outs - freshman Daniel Elliott. The designated hitter launched the first pitch he saw over the center field fence for his second home run of the season to knot the game at 4-4. Mercyhurst continued the rally when Balego walked and Marinelli singled to put runners at first and second. But, Seekins got Scaccia to hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

Elliott's other home run came in a 12-10 victory at Lake Erie College last Wednesday.

Junior Ben Nolan pitched a perfect top of the ninth inning, recording two strikeouts, to set the stage for another Laker walk-off victory.

Junior Austin Alonge started the rally with a one-out, ten-pitch walk, fouling off four successive full-count pitches before getting ball four from Seekins. Alonge advanced to third when junior Brendan Cox doubled to right center. Saia was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. With the infield in, Seekins got the ground ball he was looking for off the bat of Morrison, but Notre Dame second baseman Austin Barnhart short-hopped catcher Andrew Hurd and the catcher could not hang on, allowing Alonge to score the winning run.

Redshirt senior Jon Corbi started and pitched five-plus innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits while walking one and striking out five. Corbi pitched to one batter in the sixth, allowing a leadoff single to Danny Beaver, who came in to score when Notre Dame's Bryan Blondeaux extended the lead to 3-0 with a two-run shot off of Schnurr.

Corbi allowed the first run of the game in the top of the fourth when Morrison dropped a fly ball in left that allowed Blondeaux to score with two outs.

Schnurr went three innings and allowed two runs on three hits. He struck out three. Nolan, who pitched the perfect ninth, was credited with the victory. He improved to 4-0 on the season.

Both teams had nine hits in the contest with the Lakers getting two hits apiece from Martinez and Cox. Blondeaux and Miller had two hits apiece for the Falcons.

Mercyhurst will return to conference action on Friday, April 10, when it travels to California (Pa.) to square off against the Vulcans. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.