BUTLER, Pa.—The Mercyhurst Baseball team sweeps Clarion in a four game weekend series. They now hold a nine-game winning streak heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
Game One (W, 2-1):
The first game of the doubleheader was a pitcher's duel, where there were just ten hits given up between the teams. Tyler Garbee took the mound for game one and had yet another outstanding outing. Garbee is coming off a no-hitter on Monday and pitched another complete game. He struck out 11 batters, allowed just six hits, and gave up just one earned run on the day. Garbee also earned the win.
Clarion jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, but that was their only run of the game. The Lakers then tied the game in the third inning when Ben Monti touched home plate after Matthew Gibson grounded into a double play.
Alex O'Donnell gave the Lakers the lead in the fifth inning, hitting a RBI double to center field. He ended up going 2-3 at the dish with one RBI. O'Donnell's RBI double ended up being the final run of the game, giving the Lakers a 2-1 victory.
Game Two (W, 10-9):
The Lakers needed 14 innings to complete this weekend's sweep. Luke Baranchak and Matthew Schneider showed off their power combining for three homeruns. Russell Lamovec was rock solid on the mound throwing seven strikeouts, allowing just four hits, and giving up just one earned run in five innings pitched. This would help give the Lakers a commanding 9-2 lead. Clarion eventually came back and forced the game to go into extra innings. However, their comeback fell short and the Lakers came out on top.
Mercyhurst came out on fire in the first four innings. Josh Surowiec got the bats going, hitting a RBI single to give the Lakers an early 1-0 lead. The Lakers then went on a power surge hitting three homeruns in three innings which extended the lead to 4-0. Baranchak came to play in his hometown of Butler, hitting two homeruns in the second and fourth inning. In addition to, Schneider hitting a homerun in the third.
In the fifth inning, Surowiec added another RBI on the day hitting a single. Baranchak then followed that up by hitting a RBI single in the fifth inning. He then stole second base where Dominic Cecere would score, giving the Lakers a 7-1 lead.
Jack Elliott and Josh Suroweic both hit RBI doubles to make it 9-2 in the sixth inning. However, Clarion started a comeback and scored six runs in the inning. In the next inning, Clarion tied the game at 9.
Adam Jeannette and Chad Cwik were lights out from the bullpen. Jeannette came in the bottom of the seventh, where he went five innings and collected seven strikeouts. He also only allowed one earned run. Cwik came in relief for Jeannette in 12th and recorded five strikeouts. He gave up just one hit and earned the win.
The next run did not end up coming until the 14th inning where Schneider hit a RBI single. The Lakers would then win 10-9.
NEXT UP: The Lakers will end their regular season with a 4-game series against Gannon University. The first game of the series will take place this Friday at 1:00 PM at Mercyhurst. This series will determine who takes first place in the PSAC West.
