ERIE, Pa. – The eleventh-ranked Mercyhurst baseball team plays a pivotal mid-season Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Division series against Slippery Rock April 13-14.
The initial locations for Friday's and Saturday's doubleheaders have been flipped due to field conditions at Slippery Rock. Mercyhurst will now host Friday's doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. while Saturday's games will be played at Slippery Rock, also beginning at 1 p.m.
THE MATCHUP
This series marks a matchup between the top two teams in the PSAC West Division. Mercyhurst (20-5) and Slippery Rock (17-7) both hold 10-2 records in PSAC play. Both teams are featured in the top five in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Atlantic Region poll with Mercyhurst holding the top spot and The Rock in fifth.
Slippery Rock has won nine-straight games dating back to March 26 and has scored 68 runs over that span (7.55 per game) while allowing just 34 runs (3.78 p/g).
Slippery Rock players to watch: Sr. Christian Porterfield (24 starts, .378 BA, 7 HR, 28 RBI, 1.198 OPS), Fr. Abraham Mow (21 starts, .372 BA, 10 2Bs, 4 HR, 23 RBI).
Slippery Rock top pitchers: Sr. Alex Pantuso (6 starts, 3-2, 33.0 IP, 57 K, 4.09 ERA), Sr. Matt Gordon (5 starts, 4-0, 30.1 IP, 2.08 ERA, 1 shutout), Jr. Chris Anastas (6 app/5 starts, 4-0, 28.1 IP, 2.54 ERA)
LAKER OUTLOOK
Mercyhurst took three-of-four against Seton Hill last weekend and won Tuesday's non-conference game versus Notre Dame College in come-from-behind, walk-off fashion to win 9-8.
Collin Fantaskey supplied the walk-off hit to cap off a comeback where the Lakers trailed 7-1 in the fifth inning. It was the second walk-off hit for the Lakers this season (
Matthew Gibson, March 23 vs. Cal).
Parker Shannon launched his first collegiate home run in Tuesday's win. When Mercyhurst's lineup hits at least one home run, they are 13-1 in those games. They are also 19-0 when scoring first.
MERCYHURST IN THE POLLS
Mercyhurst continues its season-long stretch of being ranked in the three major national polls this week. The Lakers also remain atop of the NCBWA's Atlantic Region poll by unanimous vote for the third-straight week.
|
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 |
| April 2-8 |
#14 |
#8 |
#7 |
#1 |
16-4 |
| April 9-15 |
#14 |
#11 |
#7 |
#1 |
20-5 |
*Records entering week
