ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University baseball team got strong pitching from redshirt sophomore Colin McKee and junior Jake Hall – and just enough hitting - to turn back West Virginia State, 3-1, Thursday afternoon on the opening day of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional at Jerry Uht Park. The Lakers, the #1 seed in the regional, improved to 36-8 while the Yellow Jackets, the sixth seed, dropped to 35-15 in the double elimination tournament.

McKee (7-2) allowed only three hits, all singles, and an unearned run in seven innings of work. The righthander walked three and struck out ten - the third time this season that he has retired ten or more batters on strikes. Hall retired all six batters he faced to record his eighth save of the season. He struck out one and induced four ground balls in his two innings of work.

Mercyhurst got on the board in the home second when junior Austin Alonge singled, was sacrificed to second, and scored on a single up the middle by sophomore Cameron Balego.

The Yellow Jackets tied the contest in the third on a lead-off walk, two infield hits, and two Mercyhurst infield throwing errors. But that was the lone run and those were the last hits for West Virginia State.

The Lakers took the lead for good in the sixth when junior Brendan Cox singled to shortstop and eventually scored on Alonge's sacrifice fly to right. Cox just beat the throw from West Virginia State right fielder, Trenton Porter.

Mercyhurst got an insurance tally in the seventh when, with one out, Balego walked, moved to second on a wild pitch, and ultimately crossed the plate on a single by redshirt senior Ryan Siegel.

West Virginia State starter Tyler Thompson (9-2) went the distance, allowing seven hits – all singles – and recording eight strikeouts.

The Lakers' seven singles were divided among seven players while Cody Smith had two of the Yellow Jackets' three hits.

Mercyhurst will play Seton Hill (42-12) at 1:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon. The Griffins, the regional's #3 seed, bowed 5-2 to #4 seed Winston-Salem State (41-13) in Thursday's third game.

Other games Friday will pair #2 Millersville (42-10) against West Virginia State (35-15) at 10:00 a.m. and #5 West Chester (27-13) vs. Winston-Salem State (41-13) at 5:00 p.m. West Chester began Thursday's action with a 5-0 win over Millersville.

The Friday games were moved up two hours from the original start times in the attempt to avoid impending rain that is expected to hit the area later in the evening.