Erie, PA—Coming off their third loss of the season the Mercyhurst baseball team came back on Saturday in grand fashion, the Lakers swept Salem to secure the series win.
Game One (W, 4-2)
Salem was able to jump out to a quick lead in the first inning as they hit a solo home to open the game. The Tigers added to the lead in the third, that would all the Tigers would get.
Michael Krauza took over on the mound for Vincenzo Lucente who was able to strikeout three Tigers in just 2.1 innings of work. Krauza was able to strikeout five while allowing just one hit in 4.2 innings of work for the Lakers.
In the bottom of the seventh the Lakers came to the plate for their last chance to tie the game at two.
After Casimer Sobaszek and Jack Elliott walked, Tyler Zaluski came to the plate, Zaluski was able to reach on an error. Josh Surowiec came to the plate with a chance to win it. Surowiec took the 1-0 pitch and put it over the fence in left center to give the Lakers the 4-2 win.
The walk off is the first walk off win since May 18th, 2018 when the Lakers beat Seton Hill to advance to the NCAA Atlantic Super Regional Championship.
Suroweic's grand slam is the first since Domenic DeRenzo hit a grand slam on May 20th, 2019 in a win over Bloomsburg.
The walk off grand slam is the first time in Mercyhurst history the Lakers have won on a walkoff grand slam.
Game Two (W, 8-3)
Mercyhurst sent Michael McDonough to the mound for the start, he was able to go 1.2 innings before he left with an apparent injury, he struck out three in the outing.
In game two, Suroweic picked up right where he left off in the first game as he had an RBI single in the top of the first. Salem would respond in the second to take a 2-1 lead heading into the third.
Salem would hold a lead until the bottom of the third. Suroweic once again added to his RBI total as he drove in Zaluski with a double to tie the game at two.
The score would stay the same until the bottom of the fifth when the Laker bats came alive. Salem thought they learned their lesson by intentionally walking Surowiec to load the bases, that was a mistake. Philip Ferranti came to the plate and worked a seven pitch walk to force Troy Banks home.
Mercyhurst wasn't done in the fifth, Luke Baranchak reached on a fielder's choice which drove in Zaluski. Matthew Gibson would then draw a walk which allowed Surowiec to score.
Head Coach Joe Spano then called Luke Jackson off the bench to pinch hit, on the fourth pitch of the at bat, Jackson roped one off the fence in left field. The double cleared the bases and extend the Laker lead to 8-2.
Salem would add one in the sixth but that was all they had as Jack Goonan came into shut it down in the seventh. Goonan would walk one and strike out three to close the game.
The Season Series
Mercyhurst and Salem matched up five times this season, the Lakers have won four of five matchups. The teams are scheduled to meet again this season.
Up Next
The Lakers will host the D'Youville Saints on Sunday for a double header. First pitch of game one is slated for 11 AM.
