Boiling Springs, NC.- The Lakers made history on Saturday afternoon when they grabbed their first ever Division I win in a 5-0 decision against Gardner-Webb in the first game of a doubleheader. Mercyhurst fell in the second game 14-0, and they'll be looking to split the series with the Bulldogs in a Sunday matinee matchup.
How it Happened:
Game One:
Mercyhurst got off to a quick start as they were looking to knot the series at a game apiece. In the first inning, both
Eric Chorba and
Chris Juchno were hit by a pitch and were eventually driven in by Joey Triviso on a two RBI double down the left field line. The hit was Triviso's second double of the young season.
Daniel Thomas took the mound to start the game for Mercyhurst and he was nearly flawless. Thomas didn't allow his first and only hit until the fifth inning of play. Over 4.2 innings, he struck five batter as he earned his first win.
Dylan Skidmore took over for him in the fifth and was able to leave the bases loaded to preserve the Lakers 2-0 lead. Mercyhurst got some insurance in the seventh inning as Chorba and Juchno were once again hit by pitches and
Ranciel Ventura reached on an E9. Triviso earned his third RBI of the day, this time in a much less exciting fashion as he walked on a full count. Pat Sullivan put the final in the coffin with a two RBI single to give Mercyhurst a 5-0 lead before Skidmore closed the matchup out in the seventh.
Game Two:
The second game of the doubleheader started out slow for both teams as neither recorded a hit in the first three innings of action. But after 3.1 innings of no hit ball, the Bulldogs were able to get the better of
Jacob Bazala. A double with no outs from Dale Francis drove in the first of eight runs scored by Gardner-Webb in the fourth inning. In the fifth, they tacked on three more runs to give themselves an 11-0 lead. Mercyhurst finally broke through for their first hit of the ball game in the top of the sixth when
Chandler Powell doubled to left field. Chorba followed it up with a shallow single before Ventura loaded the bases on a walk. But unfortunately for the Lakers, Kevin Pauly got the Bulldogs of the jam unscathed as he fanned Juchno. The Bulldogs added some more insurance in the sixth as they plated three more runs to secure a 14-0 win the latter half of the doubleheader.
Next Game:
The Lakers will look to earn a series tie tomorrow at noon as they finish out their time in Boiling Springs, NC.
