April 25, 2008

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst softball team was unable to help its chances of making the GLIAC Tournament as the Lakers lost to Northwood 8-0 and 2-0 in a conference doubleheader Friday. Mercyhurst is one of four teams, along with Gannon, Hillsdale, and Findlay, battling for the final two spots in the GLIAC Tournament.

Thankfully for the Lakers, Gannon and Hillsdale were both swept as well Friday. Findlay won its opening game against Lake Superior State, but game two was postponed due to rain. Mercyhurst and Gannon remain tied for seventh at 6-12, while Findlay follows at 6-13 and Hillsdale trails at 5-11. By virtue of the Lakers' victory over first place Wayne State a week ago, Mercyhurst holds most tiebreak advantages.

Northwood scored eight runs in the opening game on just five hits and was helped by three Mercyhurst walks and five errors. The Timberwolves started the scoring in the top of the first, picking up a pair of one-out walks and then getting a Korey Schluckbier single that drove in two.

Northwood added three runs in the fifth, two on a Schluckbier homer, and scored two more in the fourth and one in the fifth. Mercyhurst's only hit of the contest came on an infield single by Annie Dragolich in the third.

Schluckbier went 2-for-3 in the contest with four RBI and Northwood pitcher Alicia Brandenburg pitched a one-hitter, allowing just one walk and striking out four to get the win.

The two teams locked horns in a pitcher's dual in game two but a fifth-inning Mercyhurst error opened the door for the only two runs of the game. After Northwood's Ashley Belling flied out, Ashley Slusser reached on an error and Tiffany Melgoza walked. Schluckbier eventually capped off a six-RBI day by driving both runners home with an RBI single.

Mercyhurst did pound out five hits in the second game, two by Danielle Zubek, and had opportunities with runners in scoring position. The Lakers stranded a runner at third base in the second and two more runners in scoring position in the third. Zubek and Dragolich both walked to open the fifth inning, but Brandenburg, who relieved Jessica Wojcik after 2 1/3 innings, wriggled out of the jam.

The Lakers again had their first two batters on in the sixth and seventh innings but were unable to score any runs.

Brandenburg picked up the victory in game two, pitching the final 4 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and three walks. Carrina Crow was strong on the mound for Mercyhurst, going all seven innings and giving up seven hits and three walks to go with a pair of unearned runs.

Northwood improves to 21-22 overall and 8-8 in the GLIAC. Mercyhurst falls to 21-27 overall and 6-12 in conference play. The Lakers will host Saginaw Valley State Saturday at 1 p.m. to complete the regular season.