Erie, PA—The Mercyhurst Baseball Team will face Slippery Rock this weekend in a matchup of the number four and five team in the Atlantic Region. The Lakers are coming off a weekend in which they went 1-2 against No, 7 Seton Hill.
Laker Overview
Mercyhurst played four close games with the Griffins, however the third game of the series has been suspended to due to a Mercyhurst protest that was upheld on Monday.
In the first game of the series on Friday, the Lakers were able to come out on top thanks to a Josh Surowiec walk off three run home run. The Lakers were able to generate six hits in the game, Surowiec led the way by going 2-4 with three RBIs while also scoring two runs. Jack Elliott, Tyler Zaluski, and Matthew Gibson each a notched a hit the win. Casimer Sobaszek notched a key single that drove in two runs in the fourth inning that brought the Lakers to within two. Later in the inning Luke Baranchak brought Gibson home to make it a one run game. Seton Hill responded in the sixth with a run of their own. Down by two in the seventh Troy Banks reached base due to an error, while Philip Ferranti walked to put runners on first and third with one out. Surowiec went to the opposite field on a 1-2 count and the ball kept carrying until it cleared the fence to make it a 7-6 Laker win.
In game two the Lakers fell to the Griffins by a score of 4-2. Mercyhurst scored both their runs in the third inning after Luke Jackson blasted his third homer of his freshman season. With two outs in the inning Elliott singled and advanced on a wild pitch. On a 3-2 count Ferranti was able to give the Lakers a 2-1 lead as he singled up the middle to bring Elliott home. The trio of Vincenzo Lucente, Chase Stewart, and Michael Krauza took the mound in the game and allowed just four runs on 10 hits while also striking out seven.
After the two games in Erie, the two teams traveled to Greensburg for their second doubleheader of the weekend. Game one on Saturday was played to completion, however the Lakers put the game under protest in the second inning with them holding a 1-0 lead. The protest was upheld, the final result will not count towards the standings. If the teams are able to complete the game, the score will be 1-0 Mercyhurst in the top of the third inning.
The final game of the series the Lakers and Griffins continued their weekend of close games as Mercyhurst fell 5-4. Zaluski had a big game in his return to Seton Hill as he went 3-3 with a home run, a double, and three RBIs. Ferranti was able to go 2-3 with two doubles while Banks went 2-4 with a clutch RBI double in the seventh inning to bring the Lakers to within one. The Lakers couldn't complete the comeback and fell 5-4.
By the Numbers
The Lakers currently sit in eighth in the PSAC for team batting average (.283), fifth in team hits (242), sixth in doubles (48), third in home runs (40), sixth in RBIs (181).
The Mercyhurst pitching staff ranks second in the PSAC in ERA (4.50), sixth in earned runs (109), and first in the conference in opposing batting average with a .233.
Scouting The Rock
Slippery Rock comes into the weekend with an overall record of 16-9 while having a 7-7 conference weekend. The Rock are 15-2 at home this season while being 1-7 on the road. Last weekend the Rock took on UPJ and they were able to split the series by sweeping the doubleheader at home on Saturday. On Tuesday, Slippery Rock took on Seton Hill in a doubleheader, the Griffins beat the Rock 11-0 in game one and 6-1 in game two. Jon Kozarlan leads the team in hitting this season as he has .463 batting average while also having the team lead in RBI with 24. Connor Hamilton is second on the team in hitting .417 while having 19 RBI this season. Travis Holman holds the lowest ERA out of the bullpen this season as he has a 1.53 in seven appearances. Luke Trueman has pitched the most innings on the team and has a 4.35 ERA in six starts this season.
Playoff Picture
The Lakers currently sit in the third position of the PSAC West with a 11-8 conference record. The PSAC tournament will start on May 12th with the first round featuring one nine inning game. The second round will be a three-game series on May 16th and 17th. The PSAC Championship Series will take place on May 21st and 22nd.
Up Next
The Lakers will close out the regular season on May 7th and 8th as they will take on Clarion at home on Friday and on the road on Saturday.
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