Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst baseball hosted their foes from the other side of town, Gannon, for two games with the Lakers able to win both. Pitching was on top of their game for Mercyhurst in both games, allowing just three runs total while the bats were alive to help the Lakers win 8-1 and 9-2.
How it Happened
The Golden Knights were able to strike first in game number one as an error on the Laker pitcher allowed Gannon to get a runner on before it came around to score on a sacrifice fly. Mercyhurst was able to respond in a big way in their half of the frame with four runs coming across to score. The first run came across on a single up the middle from Chris Juchno before Mitchell Grosch sent one over the fence in center for a three-run shot, making it 4-1.
Mercyhurst added on with three in the third to help them make it a six-run advantage. After a pitching change for the Golden Knights, the Lakers started to get a few runners on with the first coming across from a wild pitch. Jayden Walker then helped make it 6-1 with a hard hit fly ball to right for a sacrifice fly. A second wild pitch then allowed the third run of the frame to come in and give Mercyhurst a 7-1 lead.
The Lakers added on with one more in the fourth to make it 8-1 for an advantage that proved to more than enough. Mercyhurst's starter Corbin Foy gave up just one run over the course of five innings of work with him holding the Golden Knights scoreless for four straight. Ben Berdine then picked up the ball in the sixth and kept things rolling in his outing, going two innings and helping the Lakers finish with the 8-1 win.
Mercyhurst was able to get off to a fast start in game number two with five runs in the opening frame. The Golden Knights struggled on defense to get an out with three errors in the inning, allowing the Lakers to jump out to the big lead. Gannon's defense continued to fail them with another error helping Mercyhurst add on with a double from Jayden Walker proving big as well, driving in one run.
A second double from Walker ended up plating one more in the Laker's half of the fourth, 9-1. Like the first game, Mercyhurst's pitching only needed a couple of runs to help them grab the win. Ryan Rafalski took the mound for the Lakers with him able to pitch a gem. The senior righty ended up going six innings while allowing just one run in another major win for the Lakers against their cross-town rivals.
Highlights
Mitchell Grosch led the way for the Lakers at the plate with five hits on the day including a pair of extra base hits as he hit both a home run and a double. Jayden Walker had the other two of the teams extra baggers as the Laker first baseman had a pair of doubles in game two. Corbin Foy tossed five innings in game one with eight Ks to his line while giving up two hits. Ryan Rafalski followed with just one run allowed in six innings in game two, matching Foy's eight strikeouts.
Next Game
Mercyhurst wraps up their series with the Golden Knights on Monday with a pair of games on the other side of town with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. They then see Pitt-Johnstown on Friday, April 19th, when the Lakers go on the road before hosting the Mountain Cats the following day at 1:00 p.m.
