Feb. 25, 2007

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FORT MYERS, Fla. - Mercyhurst swept a non-conference doubleheader from an improved Wheeling Jesuit team in Florida. The Lakers needed nine innings to pull out a 2-1 win in the first game, before taking a 9-3 in the nightcap.

Game One:
Brian Espersen pitched a complete game and struck out eight as Mercyhurst and Wheeling Jesuit went nine innings. The righty also scattered five hits.

Trey Bennett scored both runs and had two steals. Kevin Nowak drove Bennett in both times.

In the top of the ninth, Bennett singled then stole second. The catcher's throw went into centerfield allowing the speedster to advance to third. Nowak then drove him home with a sacrifice fly.

The duo teamed up for the Lakers' first run earlier in the game when Bennett walked, stole second and came home on a Nowak RBI single.

Game Two:
Ryan Schreiber got out of a bases loaded, two-out jam in the third inning, then pitched two more innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win in a 9-3 Mercyhurst (3-1) victory over the Cardinals.

Jeff Stoll, John Blike and Dan Bertolini all had two hits for Mercyhurst.

Stoll had a two-run single with the bases loaded in the fifth to break open a close game. He also had a double in the game.

Chad Ditcher pitched a scoreless sixth inning and Adam Stewart closed it out with a scoreless frame in the seventh.

Josh Schmidt also doubled.

Mercyhurst is back in action tomorrow with a 7:00 PM first pitch against Palm Beach Atlantic in a game played at Palm Beach Community College in Lake Worth, Florida.