March 22, 2008

Game One
Game Two

Erie, Pa. - Pitching dominated Saturday's Mercyhurst and Findlay Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) doubleheader with the teams combining for just five runs in the two games. The Lakers took the opener, 2-1 but Findlay used a late rally to win game two, 2-0.

Mercyhurst, playing without the services of their five leading hitters, received a sterling pitching performance in the opener from senior Wes Craig (2-1). He went 5.1 innings and allowed one run on four hits and struck out four before handing the ball to the bullpen, which worked 1.2 perfect innings.

The Lakers scored both of their runs in the third. John Mang, who because of injuries was making his first appearance in the field since 2006, single to start the inning. Jamie Walczak drove him in with a double to deep centerfield. Walczak later swiped third and the throw down skipped away, allowing him to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead.

Senior John Morris struck out a pair in the ninth to earn his third save of the season and the 16th of his career, bringing him within one of tying Nate Goodrich (1998-01) for first on the school's all-time career saves list.

Mercyhurst managed just five hits, two of which came off the bat of Adam Gray.

The Laker offense sputtered in the nightcap, managing just one hit off of Findlay's Tyler Heskett (1-0), who went six innings and struck out four while walking a pair. Josh Barney earned his third save of the season, as well.

Red-shirt sophomore Steve Grife (2-2) kept the Lakers in the game, though, blanking the Oilers through the first six innings. But in the top of the seventh, with the scored tied 0-0, Jon Dollinger led off with a pinch-hit single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Spencer Ferst. Jeff Peters pinch hit and got plunked by a pitch, and a walk to the next batter loaded the bases. Kyle Blessing followed with a two-run double.

Grife was the hard-luck loser, allowing two runs on six hits and recording a career-high 12 strikeouts.

Junior Joseph Furner accounted for the only Laker hit.

Mercyhurst (10-7, 1-3 GLIAC) hosts future Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference foe Clarion Monday for a pair of games beginning at 12 p.m.