Erie, PA—The Mercyhurst Baseball team will play in their final regular season series this weekend as they take on the Clarion in a four-game series.
Laker Overview
Mercyhurst is coming off a weekend in which they split with Slippery Rock. The Lakers fell in both game ones against the Rock, in game one on Friday they lost 10-2, they won game two 7-5. On Saturday in Erie, Mercyhurst lost 3-0 in game one and bounced back in game two winning 6-2.
In the win on Friday, five different Lakers recorded hits including Tyler Zaluski who finished 3-4 and a triple away from the cycle while also recording an RBI. Along with Zaluski, Luke Jackson, Logan Martella-Tasick, Philip Ferranti, Josh Surowiec each drove in a run while Troy Banks drove in two. Mercyhurst was patient at the dish and drew six walks. Vincenzo Lucente went 2.2 innings as he started the game on the bump. Michael Krauza took over in the third and was lights out for the Lakers as he earned his seventh win of the season. Krauza went 4.1 innings and allowed just one hit while striking out eight.
Despite being shutout in the first game of the day on Saturday, the Lakers came out firing in game two. Jack Elliott put the Lakers in front in the bottom of the first inning with a solo homer which was his 11th homer of the season which ranks him third in the PSAC currently. Mercyhurst tallied six hits in the game while Elliott had two hit, Zaluski, Casimer Sobaszek, Ferranti, and Luke Baranchak each had one for the Lakers. Zaluski, Elliott, Banks, and Martella-Tasick each drove in a run and Ferranti drove in two in the win. Nathan Holt made his third start of the season and 4.2 innings while allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five. Krauza took over in the fifth and earned his PSAC leading eighth win while allowing one run on two hits and striking out three in 2.1 innings of work.
By the Numbers
Mercyhurst has a team batting average of .278 while also having an on base percentage of .391 this season. In the field the Lakers currently have a .970 fielding percentage and have only committed 32 errors on 1,056 chances in the field. The pitching staff has a combined ERA of 4.67 while they have recorded 294 strikeouts and are holding opposing hitters to a .239 average.
Where We Rank
The Lakers currently rank fourth in homers (42), sixth in RBI (196), sixth in walks (143), fourth in fielding percentage (.970). Mercyhurst pitchers have struck out 294 batters (1st in PSAC) while also having the third lowest ERA at 4.67.
Scouting Clarion
The Golden Eagles come into the weekend with a 12-19 record and a 10-12 record in PSAC play. Clarion played a double header with Slippery Rock on Monday and split, they won game one 10-3 and lost game two 9-2. Last weekend the Golden Eagles swept IUP by scores of 5-1, 14-10, 1-0, and 5-2. Alex Ficorilli leads the team in hitting with a .365 average. The team has a .263 batting average while they have hit 15 home runs this season. The Clarion pitching staff has a combined ERA of 8.42 while opposing hitters are hitting .326 against Clarion.
Playoff Picture
Mercyhurst currently sits in the third position in the PSAC West standings with a 13-10 record. Seedings will be determined by total conference wins. Seton Hill has clinched the number one seed and only one team has been eliminated from postseason contention (IUP). Mercyhurst can finish as high as second in the division or fall out of a playoff position depending on results from this weekend.
Up Next
The PSAC playoffs are set to begin on Wednesday May 12th with the first two seeds hosting the third and fourth seed in a single nine inning game. The NCAA Atlantic Regional is set to begin on May 27th, the host has not been announced at this time.
Spectator Policy
Mercyhurst
Clarion
