Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst baseball made the short trip to see Gannon Monday afternoon for two games with the team splitting. Gannon managed to rally in game one with a walk-off grand slam helping them to a 10-8 win in game one. The Lakers got some revenge in game two, scoring eight unanswered to help them to an 11-10 win and get their third win of the series over the Golden Knights.
How it Happened
The Lakers did not waste much time getting out to a lead in the first game, scoring two runs in their alf of the first. Back-to-back lead-off hits got the Lakers in business with runners on second and third before a double from Mitchell Grosch brought in two to make it 2-0. The team then got back to work the following frame as a solo home run off the bat of John Susnik made it 3-0 as the Laker backstop mashed one over the right field wall. From there, an RBI single from Zachary Kourous made added one more before the inning came to a conclusion to help Mercyhurst jump out in front by four.
The Golden Knights managed to cut into Mercyhurst's lead with a pair of runs of their own. They ended up scoring once in the second on a home run with a bases loaded walk allowing their other run to come around in the third. After the pair of runs, Laker starter Aiden Kelly shut down the opposition with him allowing just one base runner in the fourth and fifth innings combined, helping his team regain the momentum.
Gannon came up big in their half of the seventh to help them complete the comeback. Santino Campoli came into the game to start the frame for the Lakers and did not quite have the outing he was hoping to have. After getting the first batter to fly out, six straight Golden Knights reached base safely with the final of that stretch being a hit by pitch that made it 8-5. From there, a one-out single and a subsequent walk-off grand slam ended the game, 10-8.
Mercyhurst was the first team to score in game two with one run in the top of the second as a double from Jayden Walker gave the Lakers a quick 1-0 lead. They added on with two more in the third, but the Golden Knights broke through in a big way with nine runs in their half of the stanza, staking them to a 10-3 lead.
The Lakers worked to cut down the deficit over the course of the next couple of innings. They ended up scoring four runs in the fourth thanks to a pair of two-run home runs. The first came courtesy of catcher John Susnik who hit his second long ball of the day while Zachary Kourous followed with one of his own as Mercyhurst had managed to make it a 10-7 score. They then added two more the following frame thanks to another extra base hit with Kourous once again coming up with the big hit, banging a double into the right field gap to score two, 10-9.
It was two more runs in the sixth for Mercyhurst that helped them take the lead, 11-10. A double from Joe Trivisonno brought in the first run as the Laker center fielder two hopped the wall in left before a throwing error on the infield by Gannon allowed the second to come around and give Mercyhurst their first lead since the third. After gaining the lead, Jacob Bazala took the mound for the Lakers with the righty sitting the side down in order in the sixth before getting all three outs in the final frame on Ks.
Highlights
Zachary Kourous led the team in hits with six, recording three hits in each games with two of those going for extra bases with a double and a home run while driving in a team-high six runs. Jayden Walker ended up with four extra base hits with each of those being doubles to lead the way in extra baggers. He was followed by Joe Trivisonno and John Susnik who each had three with Susnik having two of the team's three home runs on the day. On the mound, Aiden Kelly pitched well in game one, going five innings while allowing two runs on five hits, striking out eight for the most on the season.
Next Game
Mercyhurst returns to PSAC play this weekend when they go on the road to see Pitt-Johnstown on Friday, April 19th, for a pair of games. The team then returns home to host UPJ for two games the following day beginning at 1:00 p.m.
