Erie, Pa.—The Mercyhurst Baseball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Ashland on Wednesday at the Mercyhurst Baseball Field.
Game One (W, 8-1)
On just the fourth pitch of the ball game leadoff hitter Matthew Gibson hit his fifth homer of the season to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead. The Lakers weren't done in the opening frame, following a Casimer Sobaszek walk, Josh Surowiec went opposite field and hit his 11th homer of the season to make it 3-0.
The Eagles answered back in the top of the second with a solo homer to make it 3-1 Lakers.
In the bottom of the second the Lakers extended their lead to 5-1. With two outs in the frame Chris Juchno hit a solo homer. As the lineup turned over, Gibson started it up again with a walk, he then stole second. Sobaszek walked to put two runners on with Surowiec coming to plate. On an 0-1 pitch, Surowiec singled which drove in Gibson from second.
After a scoreless third inning, the Lakers added one more to their lead in the fourth inning. Troy Banks doubled in Luke Jackson who drew a two out walk to extend the inning.
The Lakers added their final runs of the game in the sixth inning. Mercyhurst was the beneficiary of an Eagle error as Jack Elliott rolled into a fielder's choice and forced a throwing error. Surowiec scored on the play. Later in the inning following a Philip Ferranti strikeout there was throw to first to complete the out, on the throw Banks came home for the eighth Laker run.
Matt Shepard started on the mound for the Lakers and earned his first collegiate win in grand fashion. He pitched a complete game allowing just two hits while walking four. He struckout five in the win while getting seven flyouts and nine groundouts.
Game Two (L, 6-4)
Ashland opened the scoring in the first inning as they took a 2-0 lead in the top of the frame.
In the bottom half the Lakers cut the Eagle lead in half as Surowiec blasted another opposite field homer to make it 2-1.
In the bottom of the second, Ashland regained their two run lead on a SAC fly. The Lakers responded in bottom of the third as Banks hit his seventh homer of the season to give the Lakers a 4-3 lead. Jackson and Surowiec scored on the three run homer.
Ashland hit a two run homer in the fifth and then a solo homer in the seventh to make it 6-4. The Lakers had two runners on in the bottom of the seventh but could not complete the comeback.
Josh Greggs started on the mound and went two innings and allowed three runs (one unearned) on four hits. In the third Cody Smith made his collegiate debut and struckout his first batter on three pitches. He ended up going 2.1 innings allowing two runs on four hits while striking out two. Corbin Foy took over for the final 2.2 innings and allowed just one hit and one run while striking out four.
Up Next
The Lakers are back in PSAC West play as they start a four game series with IUP on Friday at the Mercyhurst Baseball Field.
