ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst baseball team continues its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schedule with a pair of doubleheaders against Indiana (Pa.) March 30-31.
Due to weather and field conditions at IUP, all four games will be played at Mercyhurst this weekend. The Crimson Hawks will be the home team for Friday's game while the Lakers (13-3, 4-0) will have their regularly scheduled home games Saturday.
Friday's doubleheader will begin at 1:30 p.m. with Saturday's start set for 1:00 p.m.
THE MATCHUP
The same predicament with weather happened last year, forcing both teams to play four games at Mercyhurst. The Lakers swept IUP in the four-game series, including a win where they tied a program record with 25 runs scored in a game.
IUP (4-12, 1-3) rallied to finish second in the PSAC West Division last season. The Crimson Hawks are coming off a 1-3 weekend in their first PSAC games versus Pitt Johnstown, including a 3-2 win in the series finale.
IUP's top hitters: So. Chris Eisel (.393, 20 runs, 22 hits, 5 SBs), Sr. Ted DeSanti (.341, 6 XBH, 2 HR, 13 RBI)
IUP's top pitchers: Jr. Colin Claus (0-2, 17.0 IP, 3.71 ERA, 20 K), Jr. Brian Albert (2-0, 18.0 IP, 5.50 ERA, 19 K)
LAKER OUTLOOK
Mercyhurst's current seven-game win streak is its best winning stretch since the Lakers won 18-straight in 2017 ranging from April 1-22, the longest win streak the Lakers have had with
Joe Spano as head coach.
Mercyhurst's
Alex O'Donnell is riding a ten-game hit streak and has gotten a hit in 14 of 16 games this season. He has also scored a run in all but one game. He tied a season-high with three RBI in Monday's game versus Malone.
Freshman
Jack Elliott has a four-game hit streak for the Lakers. During that stretch, he is batting .428 (6-for-14) with his first career HR and three RBI.
MERCYHURST IN THE POLLS
The Lakers climbed slightly in each national poll this week after winning all five games last week. Mercyhurst also retook the top spot in the NCBWA Region Standings by unanimous vote.
|
Collegiate Baseball |
NCBWA |
Perfect Game |
NCBWA
(Atl. Region) |
Lakers'
Record* |
| Preseason |
#10 |
#11 |
#6 |
#2 |
0-0 |
| Feb. 19-25 |
|
#14 |
|
#2 |
0-0 |
| Feb. 26-March 4 |
|
#8 |
#3 |
#1 |
2-0 |
| March 5-11 |
#5 |
#4 |
#3 |
#1 |
5-0 |
| March 12-18 |
#19 |
#7 |
#11 |
#2 |
6-3 |
| March 19-25 |
#18 |
#15 |
#11 |
#2 |
8-3 |
| March 26-April 1 |
#14 |
#9 |
#7 |
#1 |
13-3 |
*Record entering week
