Erie, Pa.—The Mercyhurst Baseball team opened a crucial PSAC West series with IUP in Erie on Friday night, the two teams each won a game.
Game One (W, 12-8)
The Lakers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Casimer Sobaszek notched the first Laker hit of the day with one out in the opening frame. One batter later, Luke Jackson stepped to the plate and hit a no-doubt homer to left field to make it 2-0.
In the bottom of the second inning Matthew Gibson notched a one out single to start a big inning for the Lakers, Sobaszek followed it up with his second single of the game. Josh Surowiec stepped to the plate and singled in Gibson from second to make it 3-0. Jackson wasted no time as he hit his second homer of the day to make it 6-0 Lakers.
IUP scored twice in the top of the third to make it 6-2.
After IUP got on the board the Lakers responded in the bottom of the third. Philip Ferranti started it with a walk and John Susnik followed it up with a walk to put two runners on for Chris Juchno. After a seven pitch at bat the freshman homered to right center to blow the game open and make it 9-2. After a Laker fly out and walk, Surowiec stepped to the plate with two outs in the frame. The PSAC leading hitter took a 3-1 pitch over the center field fence to make it 11-2.
The final Laker run came in the bottom of the fifth as Surowiec went opposite field for his team leading 13th homer of the season to make it 12-2.
The Crimson Hawks scored twice in the sixth inning on a two run home run. IUP mounted a slight comeback in the seventh inning as they scored four times to make it 12-8.
Jarrett Heilmann started on the bump for the Lakers and went five full innings allowing just two runs on three hits while striking out six.
Chris Smith, Hunter Treece, and Corbin Foy combined for the final two innings and they struckout four an allowed four earned runs.
Game Two (L, 10-3)
The Crimson Hawks struck first in the top of the first inning to make it 1-0.
In the bottom of the second inning the Lakers took their lone lead of the contest. Ferranti started the two out rally with a single to center field. Susnik followed it up with a moon shot over the left field fence.
IUP scored eight in the top of the third on four hits to make it 9-2.
Neither team scored again until the seventh inning, IUP hit a leadoff solo homer to make 10-2.
In the bottom half of the frame Troy Banks hit his eighth homer of the season to cut the lead to10-3.
John Bufford Jr, started on the mound and went 2.2 innings, he allowed two earned runs and struckout two.
Cody Smith, Robert Hartman, Spencer Curran, and Corey Shields combined for 2.1 innings while allowing one hit and no runs. In the sixth Carter Beneigh made his collegiate debut and struckout the first three batters he faced.
Up Next
The Lakers and Crimson Hawks travel to Indiana, Pa. tomorrow to close out the four game weekend series.
