ERIE, Pa. – Mercyhurst senior
Dan Popio hit three of the Lakers' seven home runs as the Mercyhurst baseball team swept its home doubleheader against Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday afternoon. The Lakers (33-4, 21-3) won game one 11-2 and followed up with a 13-2 victory over UPJ (18-26, 8-16) in game two.
Individual game recaps are below.
Game 1: Mercyhurst 11, Pitt-Johnstown 2
The Lakers scored five runs in the second inning and did not look back in its nine-run win in game one.
With two runners on base in the second inning, the Lakers laced five-straight singles and batted through the order on its way to a 5-0 advantage.
Mercyhurst scored at least one run in the remaining innings and did not allow a run until the top of the sixth and seventh innings.
Drew Delsignore went 3-for-4 with a sixth-inning home run and two runs driven in.
Jimmy Latona had a home run in the fifth inning and finished 2-for-4.
Cameron Balego had three hits, including a double, and two RBI. Popio added two extra base hits including his sixth-inning bomb.
Vincenzo Lucente maintained his perfect record by picking up his fifth win in a complete-game effort. He struck out ten batters while only allowing one earned run and two walks.
Game 2: Mercyhurst 13, Pitt-Johnstown 2
After three scoreless innings to start game two, the Lakers erupted for 13 runs, including seven in the bottom of the sixth inning, to rout the Mountain Cats.
Early on, Lakers' starter
Connor Ryan was locked in a pitchers' duel with UPJ's Brady Walker. It wasn't until the fourth inning when
Chris Gonzalez led off the bottom half with a solo shot, his first of three RBI base knocks. Popio launched his second of the day in the same frame to put the Lakers up 2-0.
Mercyhurst doubled its fourth-inning run total in the fifth and allowed Ryan (4-0) to exit after 5 1/3 innings with the lead. He allowed no runs and four hits while striking out four.
In the seventh inning, Mercyhurst piled on their lead. Gonzalez drove in two more runs to finish 3-for-4 with four RBI and three runs. Balego added an RBI-triple and went 2-for-3. Popio mashed another solo home run for his third of the day.
Mercyhurst's next game will be at home Tuesday, May 2 against Alderson Broaddus. The Lakers complete their PSAC West Division regular season schedule next weekend versus California, Pa. Friday's home doubleheader and Saturday's road twinbill both begin at 1 p.m.
