April 13, 2008

Game One
Game Two

Hilldale, Mich. - The Mercyhurst baseball team struck early and senior Wes Craig notched his team-leading fourth win of the season as the Lakers earned a 4-2 win over Hillsdale in game one of Sunday's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) doubleheader. Hillsdale, however, took the nightcap, 2-0.

The win in the opener was Mercyhurst's third in its last five conference games after a 1-9 start. But the loss in game two marked the sixth time in 16 GLIAC contests that the Lakers have been shutout and the 10th time they have been held to three runs or fewer.

The Laker bats provided just enough support for Craig (4-2) in game one, though, striking for one run in each of the first three innings to build a 3-0 lead.

Craig didn't allow a run until the bottom of the fourth and finished his day after 5.2 innings. He scattered six hits and walked just one while allowing one earned run and striking out four. Senior James Ludwig made his GLIAC-leading 19th appearance of the year and earned his second save of the season.

Senior Joe Luli paced the Lakers with two RBIs, one coming on a sacrifice fly in the first and another on an RBI single in the seventh. Freshman Jonathan Keppler scored twice, drove in a run, and went 2-for-2. Junior Jamie Walczak went 2-for-4 with a run and stole two bases. Senior Dan Bertolini also tallied two hits and a steal.

The Mercyhurst offense could not help red-shirt sophomore Steve Grife in game two. Despite limiting Hillsdale to two runs on four hits and racking up eight strikeouts, he suffered a loss for the third-straight decision. Grife (2-5) has received just six runs of support in his five losses this season.

Scott Monterastelli (3-1) out-dueled Grife, surrendering two hits--both coming off the bat of Laker sophomore Adam Gray--through seven innings of work.

Hillsdale's Anthony Giarmo broke the scoreless tie with a solo homer in the fourth. Dan Fodell tripled in a run in the fifth, as well.

The Lakers (15-17, 4-12) have now split the last three GLIAC doubleheaders. Hillsdale moved to 8-18 overall and 3-11 in the conference.

The two squads square off for two more in Hillsdale, Mich., Monday afternoon beginning at 2:30 p.m.