April 13, 2008

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

Erie, Pa. - In a doubleheader that featured six homeruns between the two teams, the Mercyhurst softball team picked up a crucial doubleheader sweep over Lake Superior State Sunday. Jessica McNurlen hit two homers as the Lakers won the opening game 9-4 and Amanda Norman and Brittany Strier combined to limit Lake Superior State's bats in a 4-3 game two victory.

McNurlen, who ranks among the GLIAC leaders in RBI, drove in four runs in the opener as Mercyhurst jumped out to a quick lead and never looked back. She had the first of back-to-back homers with teammate Megan Houston in the third inning as the Lakers scored three runs in the frame and took a 4-0 lead. She added her second two-run homer of the game in the fourth inning to provide all the run support the Lakers would need.

Houston had a strong game in her own right, going 3-for-4 and driving in three. She had an RBI double in the first inning that put Mercyhurst on top 1-0 and added that solo homer in the third on the backside of back-to-back bombs. She then sealed the scoring with an RBI single in the sixth.

Carrina Crow went six innings in the opening game victory, allowing five hits and four walks, while striking out three. Strier came on to pitch the final inning. Kara Gorgos went 3-for-3 in the leadoff spot and scored four times.

Lake Superior State took an early lead in the second game as pitcher Jennie Elliott helped her cause with an RBI double in the bottom of the first. The score remained 1-0 until Mercyhurst scored three times in the fourth.

After the first two batters were retired in the top of the fourth, Michelle Schmitz singled and stole second and third. Elizabeth Maier walked and Danielle Zubek singled to plate Schmitz and tie the score. Annie Dragolich followed with a single that scored another run and the Lake Superior State rightfielder threw the ball away to score another run.

Mercyhurst added an important insurance run in the top of the fifth as Erin Ratajczak led off the frame with a double and eventually scored on Houston's RBI ground out. That became important as Lake Superior State scratched out a run in the fifth and added a pinch hit homer from Lorrie Chaperon in the sixth to make it 4-3.

Strier came in to relieve Norman with a runner on third and one out in the sixth. She got Helena Zandarski to hit into a double play ground out as she was thrown out at first and Gorgos then gunned the runner at third out at the plate. Strier pitched a perfect seventh inning for her fifth save of the year.

Amber Rapose went 2-for-3 in game two, providing a pair of doubles. Five other Lakers had one hit each.

Lake Superior State falls to 6-24 on the year and 2-10 in GLIAC play. Mercyhurst improves to 17-19 overall and 4-8 in conference. The Lakers will host Slippery Rock Tuesday at 3 p.m. and Notre Dame (Ohio) Wednesday at 3 p.m.