Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst baseball got back on the diamond Saturday afternoon for two games with PSAC foe Clarion with the Lakers getting the better of the contests. It was the team's pitching that helped them secure the two wins with Mercyhurst coming out on top 1-0 and 2-0.

How it Happened

Despite neither team able to get on the board in the early going of game number one, both teams had chances with a combined eight base runners through the first three innings. Three of those came in the top of the third for the Golden Eagles with it looking like they were going to finally break through. The first batter of the frame was hit by a pitch while a single to left later in the inning followed by a subsequent steal gave Clarion runners on second and third with only one way. Laker hurler Corbin Foy managed to work out of the jam and keep his shutout going as he got a strikeout before fielding a ball back at him that he tossed onto first to end the frame.

Mercyhurst finally broke through in their half of the fourth inning with their lone run of the game. Mitchell Grosch was the one to get the Lakers on the board with the team's designated hitter getting a hold of a pitch, sending it over the left field wall to make it 1-0.

After Mercyhurst managed to claim the lead, Foy settled in on the mound and dominated the rest of the way. The senior righty ended up striking out each of the last six batters he faced, to keep the Golden Eagle's offense at bay and claim the first win of the day.

Game two was more of the same with offense coming at a premium. It was not until the bottom of the fourth that the team registered their first hit of the game with Zachary Kourous hitting a lead off single up the middle. He followed with a swipe of second before a failed pickoff attempt allowed him to make it to third. Kourous then came the final 90 feet on a wild pitch to make it a 1-0 game for the Lakers.

Mercyhurst added on in the following inning with a double off the bat of John Susnik proving to be the catalyst in the frame as he laced one down the right field line with one away. The Laker backstop ended up coming all the way around to score from second on a line drive to left from Matt Christopher, giving the Lakers all the run support they would need.

Ryan Rafalski turned in a solid effort for the Lakers with him going into the fifth inning without allowing a run with Jacob Bazala able to come in in the later stages to help grab the team's second win of the day. Much like Foy in the first game, Bazala trusted himself to get outs with each of the final six outs of the game coming from a K. It was not without some fireworks at the very end as Clarion managed to load the bases with two away in the top of the seventh. The Lakers worked out of the jam and grabbed their second shutout of the day thanks to a swinging strikeout.

Highlights

Corbin Foy pitched his second-straight complete game, going seven inning in game one with him allowing just three hits and three walks while fanning eight for a second-straight game. Six of those punch outs came in a row to end the game as the Niles, Oh. native found his rhythm towards the end of the game. Ryan Rafalski followed with solid outing of his own to start game two with him going 4.0 innings with only two hits to his line to go along with five Ks. Bazala rounded out the group of stellar performances with 2.2 innings of work in which he allowed just one hit with six strikeouts to his ledger.

Next Game

Mercyhurst ends their series with the Golden Eagles tomorrow when the team makes their way to Butler, Pa. to play inside Pullman Park with first pitch of the doubleheader scheduled for 1:00 p.m.