Erie, Pa.- Mercyhurst earned their 13^th conference win in dramatic fashion on Friday afternoon in 4-3 walk off win over Le Moyne. Jack Malec was the hero for the Lakers as they won their ninth home game and clinched a winning record in Erie for the season. They'll be aiming to sweep the series so they can finish with a .500 record in conference play in their first season at the Division I level.
 
How it Happened:
Le Moyne came into Friday looking every part of the team they were made out to be. They got a runner on base quickly as Paulie Goodness hit a leadoff single. He was able to score on a weird play that saw Kelly strike out a batter and then it looked as if the Lakers were going to end the inning on double play. But Landon DiBeradin sailed a throw to the third, which allowed Goodness to score. The Lakers first run came on just as weird of a play. Ranciel Ventura looked as if he was going to get caught in a run down, but somehow, he was able to make it to home plate before the Dolphins got the tag on him to tie things at one.
 
Both squads grabbed another run in the third inning, with the Dolphins' coming from a sacrifice fly and the Lakers' run coming on an RBI single from Jayden Walker. But both pitchers were electric on the mound. Aidan Kelly and his counterpart Max Parker each had eight strikeouts through 5.0 innings. Despite Kelly's effort on the mound though, he left the game down 3-2 after Le Moyne added their second unearned run of the game. The lakers came charging back in the bottom of the seventh, however. Landon DiBeradin hit a two out single to put Walker in scoring position. But Walker was able to work out of the jam and maintain Le Moyne's lead as the teams headed into the eighth inning.
 
But Walker once again delivered for the Lakers in the bottom of the ninth after he followed up Eric Chorba's double with an RBI single to knot things up at three. Malec was the hero for the Lakers though, as he hit his third single of the day to bring in Walker for the win.
 
Next Game:
The Lakers and Dolphins will meet back up for game two of their series. Mercyhurst will also celebrate the first ever World Series team's 10 year anniversary. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
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