ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst softball team hosted FDU for their series finale this afternoon. Yesterday, the two teams split completely different results as the Knights won game one, 7-3, and the Lakers won game two, 16-2 in five innings. Today, FDU took an early lead and held it the whole game. MU cut the deficit to two with four-run third inning, but the Knights put up eight runs in the sixth and went on to win, 15-5. 
 
FDU (11-28, 4-11 NEC) took an early lead in the first frame with a two-run home run. In the second inning, the Knights extended their lead to three with an RBI single before adding three more runs in the third.
 
Mercyhurst (7-23, 6-9 NEC) responded in the third inning with a strong offensive display. Karlie Kasten tripled and scored on an Emelie Pascual double. Braylynn Kelly then singled to drive in Pascual, followed by a two-run homer from Gabriella DeLuca, which brought Mercyhurst's total to four runs in the inning. DeLuca's two RBIs on the day brought her total to eight across the weekend. MU was now only down by two. 
 
In the fourth stanza, FDU added another run while Mercyhurst was held scoreless, bringing the score to 7-4. The Lakers added a run in the fifth inning with Kelly driving in Bailey Cannon, closing the gap to two again. However, FDU's defense prevented further scoring, maintaining their advantage.
 
The Knights offense exploded in the sixth inning, scoring eight runs on seven hits, extending the lead to 15-5. Mercyhurst was unable to score in their half, and this one ended after six innings.
 
The team has a short turnaround before their next series at Youngstown State. The doubleheader is set to begin at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14.