April 2, 2008

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst baseball team entered the top of the ninth ahead of Division I Canisius 6-4, but a Kevin Mailloux three-run home run lifted the Griffins to a come-from-behind 7-6 win over the homestanding Lakers Wednesday evening.

Mailloux's homer extended Canisius' (20-2) winning streak to nine games and handed the Lakers (12-12) their fifth-straight loss, which is now the longest skid since April of 2004.

The Lakers built the late two-run lead by scoring six runs in the sixth and seventh inning, overcoming an early 4-0 deficit. But Canisius rallied off senior reliever John Morris (0-1), who prior to Wednesday had allowed just one run in seven appearances all season. He was also 4-for-4 in save opportunities and tied for the Mercyhurst career saves mark.

The Griffins started the inning with a pair of singles and Mailloux homered to left center to put his team on top. Morris escaped the inning by sitting down the next three batters.

The Lakers went down in order in the ninth as Ryan McGorman (3-1)--who worked the final two innings in perfect fashion--picked up the victory in relief.

Senior Josh Schmidt led the Lakers at the plate with three RBIs, all of which came on one swing of the bat in a big sixth inning. Adam Gray led off the double and advanced after Joe Luli struck out but reached on a throwing error by the catcher. Greg Turk was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Adam Schlessel came through with a single to plate Gray. Schmidt followed with a three run double to center, tying the game at 4-4.

Mercyhurst scored two more in the seventh on a two-run single from Turk. All six of the Laker runs were unearned.

Turk went 2-for-3 and was hit by a pitch. He also drove in two runs scored once.

Sophomore John Iborg started for the Lakers and went four innings, allowing four runs, three earned on six hits. Freshman Nick Gillung and senior James Ludwig each worked a pair of shutout innings, as well. Ludwig has now appeared in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) leading 14 games, five more than the three players ranked second. He has also not allowed an earned run nine-straight appearances.

Mercyhurst is now 11-5 against non-conference opponents and 2-1 against Division I teams.