April 16, 2008

Game One
Game Two

Erie, Pa. - Red-shirt sophomore John Blike blasted a grand slam in the third inning, and senior Dan Bertolini snapped a tied game in extra innings to give the Lakers a 7-6 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) win over Ashland in game one of Wednesday doubleheader.

Ashland bounced back in the nightcap, though, using a complete game effort from pitcher Matt Schulz to salvage a split with the Lakers. Mercyhurst (17-19, 6-14) has now split their last five conference doubleheaders. Ashland moved to 24-10 overall and 6-4 in the conference with the split.

In the Wednesday's opener, the Lakers fell behind early after Ashland struck for four runs in the second inning off freshman Thurman Schaetzle, who was making the first start of his career. But the Lakers quickly bounced back with a big third inning.

Jonathan Keppler walked to lead off the inning and later scored on a wild pitch for the Lakers' first run. Dan Bertolini reached on an infield single, and Jamie Walczak and Joe Luli drew walks to load the bases. With two outs, Blike ripped his third homer of the year over the left field fence, giving the Lakers a 5-4 lead.

In this sixth, Luli singled home sophomore Adam Gray to give Mercyhurst a 6-4 edge. Ashland, however, answered with a two-run blast from David Quiroga, tying the game at six.

Adam Schlessel reached on a fielder's choice in the eighth and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. Jonathan Keppler was intentionally walked to put runners at the corners and Bertolini followed with a chopper up the middle that scored Schlessel, giving the Lakers the 7-6 win.

Bertolini finished with two hits, a run and an RBI to lead the offensive charge.

James Ludwig--making his GLIAC leading 19th appearance of the season--picked up his third win after logging three innings of work. Freshman Nick Gillung worked three hitless innings, as well.

For Ashland, Ben Minard (5-3) took the loss but also drove in two runs for the Eagles at the plate.

The Mercyhurst bats didn't fare as well in the nightcap, as the Lakers managed just four hits and fell by shutout for the seventh time in conference play.

Keppler, Bertolini, Luli each had singles, and Greg Turk ripped a double in the seventh.

The Lakers used four pitchers but Russell Gardner (0-1) took the loss after allowing one run in two innings. Schultz (4-1) picked up the win. striking out five and walking one.

Mercyhurst hosts a four-game series against Tiffin beginning Saturday, April 19 at 1 p.m.