CARY, N.C. - Cal Poly Pomona scored a single run in each of the first three innings against junior righthander Cam Knott and went on from thre to end the Mercyhurst University baseball team's historic season with a 5-1 victory over the Lakers in Wednesday afternoon's elimination game at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. Mercyhurst ends its campaign with a 40-11 overall record while the Broncos staved off elimination for the second straight day and improved to 45-16 with the victory.

Mercyhurst can stake the claim that it was one of the final five teams, out of 250 that started the year, competing at the Division II level and was one victory away from advancing to the national semifinals. But, it wasn't meant to be on Wednesday afternoon as the Laker bats again could not muster up enough offense to keep up with the Broncos.

The lack of offense was the story of the tournament as Mercyhurst managed only five runs and 17 hits in the three games. The Lakers batted just .172 in the tournament (17-of-99).

The Lakers put together some good swings against Cal Poly Pomona starter, Chris Powell, but were able to score just a run on five hits in his eight innings of work. The righthander was aided by several defensive gems that thwarted Mercyhurst rallies. Powell, who walked one and struck out six, improved to 8-2 with the victory. Bronco reliever Austin Boyle came on in the ninth and allowed a hit to senior Giancarlo Saia in two-thirds of an inning. J.J. Franklin ended the ball game by retiring senior catcher Jake Marinelli on a fielder's choice after junior Austin Alonge reached on an error.

Kyle Garlick, who had a big day offensively for the Broncos, led off the contest with his 17th home run of the season – a solo blast to left off of a 3-2 pitch from Knott, who dropped to 5-2 on the year.

The Broncos extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the second when Ryan Webberley led off the inning with a double to left center, advanced to third on a deep fly ball to center, and then scored on an RBI groundout by Nicholas Bruno.

In the third, Knott retired the first two batters and then gave up a single to Nick Cooksey to start a Bronco rally. Cooksey advanced to second on a wild pitch and then scored when Matt Munoz singled down the left field line. Munoz was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double, but the damage had been done.

After Knott retired the side in order in the fourth, Cal Poly Pomona scored another in the fifth to take a 4-0 advantage. Knott hit Bruno with a 3-2 pitch and Bruno then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Jacob Bernardy. Garlick drove home Bruno with a run-scoring triple to the right center field gap, ending the afternoon for Knott. Junior Matthew Jaskolka came on in relief and got a short fly ball to right and a weak grounder back to the mound to prevent further damage.

Marinelli gave the Lakers a shot in the arm in the seventh, breaking up Chris Powell's shutout bid with a solo home run to left field with two outs in the frame. It was his second round-tripper in as many games and just his third career home run after hitting one in his first 340 career at bats in a Laker uniform.

Jaskolka gave up a leadoff double to Webberley in the top of the ninth, ending his superb work out of the Laker bullpen. Senior Adam Curyto came on to get a flyout to center off the bat of Brennen Salgado, advancing Webberley to third. Junior closer Jake Hall allowed Webberley to score on a wild pitch to extend the Cal Poly Pomona lead to 5-1. Hall allowed two hits afterwards but then induced an inning-ending double play off the bat of Garlick to end the inning.

Knott went 4.1 innings and allowed four runs on six hits. He did not issue a walk and struck out three. Jaskolka was charged with the run in the ninth inning but allowed only two hits and a walk in 3.2 innings of work. He struck out one.

Mercyhurst's season comes to an end with a 40-11 overall record. It was the first trip in program history for the Lakers to the Division II Baseball National Championship after winning their first-ever Atlantic Regional Championship at Jerry Uht Park a week-and-a-half ago. The 40 wins tied the second-highest total in program history and were two shy of tying the school record of 42 the team won back in 2011.

The Lakers will now say goodbye to ten seniors – Angel Martinez, Ryan Siegel, Giancarlo Saia, Jake Marinelli, Mike Wagner, Kyle Hagerich, Adam Curyto, Jordan Bray, Jon Corbi, and Jon Klein.