EMERSON, Ga. -- The Mercyhurst baseball team opened its 2016 season with a non-conference split against Stillman at a neutral site on Saturday. The Lakers dropped game one of the doubleheader, 4-2, before winning game two, 2-0. Both games were seven-inning affairs.

In game one, Laker starting pitcher Colin McKee tossed five shutout innings, allowing three hits while recording 10 strikeouts. He did not walk a batter.

Austin Alonge went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and run scored. Daniel Elliott had a double and Dan Popio smacked a two-run single.

Popio's base hit gave MU a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Stillman eventually answered with a three-run sixth inning.

Taylor Ellis had a two-run single for Stillman and then Hank Parker provided a go-ahead, run-scoring single. Josh McDanie extended Stillman's lead to 4-2 in the seventh with a solo home run.

Josh Freeman was the winning pitcher, allowing two runs on seven hits while tallying five strikeouts and one walk.

In game two, Matthew Minnick and Jamie Lauria combined to pitch a two-hit shutout for the Lakers. Minnick went the first four frames and earned the win, giving up the two hits while recording one walk and three strikeouts. Lauria tossed three perfect innings and struck out three batters to get the save.

Hank Morrison and Cameron Balego had RBI singles in the first and fourth innings, respectively, for the Lakers (1-1). Morrison plated Popio, who had reached base with a double. Later, Balego brought in Chris Gonzalez, who had also reached on a double.

Zach Gonz was the losing pitcher for Stillman, giving up two runs on five hits while finishing with one strikeout and three walks.

The same two teams will meet again on Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m.