Erie, PA—After not being able to able to play at home for 657 days, the Mercyhurst Baseball team has now won their first two games on their new turf as they defeated Lake Erie by a score 8-7.
How it Happened
The Lakers opened the game with Adam Jeannette making his second start of the young season, in the top of the first he struck out three while leaving one stranded to open the game.
The Mercyhurst bats came out hot as the Lakers were able to score the game's first two runs. Josh Surowiec was able to get the Lakers on the board as he drove Troy Banks in after he had a leadoff single. Philip Ferranti stepped to the plate and followed up Surowiec's RBI single with one of his own as he drove Tyler Zaluski in to take the 2-0 lead.
Lake Erie would score one run in the top of the second and then one more in the top of third to tie the game at two.
Banks would give the Lakers the lead again after he led up the bottom of the third inning with a double. After a balk and a passed ball Banks was able to score and take the lead back. However, the Storm weren't done yet as they tied the game back up in the fourth.
The two teams would stay tied until the sixth inning. The Lakers would take lead after Jordan Zilka would get a leadoff single after a nine pitch at-bat. Mercyhurst would convert as Luke Jackson grounded into a double play, which allowed Brandon Arnold (pitch-ran for Zilka) to score.
Lake Erie would score four times in the top of the seventh to take the lead 7-4, after the Lakers committed two errors in the inning. That would be end of the Storm for the day.
Mercyhurst would take advantage of costly error with the bases loaded in the eighth inning. After Banks grounded one to third base, the third basemen threw home for the force out, there was one issue on the play, the catcher dropped the ball, as it got passed him, Luke Jackson came around from second to score the second run on the play.
With two outs in the eighth inning, Jack Elliott came to the plate looking to take the lead with runners on second and third. Elliott lined one up the middle which allowed both runners to score and take the lead back.
Michael Krauza went back out to the bump for the top of the ninth and calmed the Storm as he got the Lake Erie batter to popout, and flyout twice.
By The Numbers
The Mercyhurst pitching staff was able to tally 13 strikeouts today as they also stranded 13 Lake Erie players on base. Seven of the nine starters for the Lakers were able to record hits today, all nine were able to get on base with either a hit, walk, or error. Banks scored a season high three runs today, he leads the team in runs scored with seven.
Up Next
The Lakers will be back on the field tomorrow as they head to Ohio, to take on the Division I Akron Zips. Mercyhurst will return to Erie next Saturday as they play a doubleheader with the D'Youville Saints.
