March 25, 2007

Box Score

DETROIT, Mich. - Mercyhurst only allowed runs in the first and last inning of a doubleheader, holding No. 25 Wayne State scoreless for 11 innings in between, but came away with its second split in as many days.

Game One
Brian Chad settled down after allowing three runs in the first inning, but Wayne State's Kyle Hill held the Lakers to just five hits and a walk over seven innings as the Warriors won the first game 3-1.

Three hits, an error, and a walk led to three runs for the Warriors in the bottom of the first. Over the next 3.2 innings, Chad held Wayne State to just three hits and three walks to keep the Lakers in the game. He fell to 0-2.

Adam Gray, who turned in a 2-for-3 day, drove home the only Mercyhurst run with an RBI groundout in the fifth.

Ryan Schreiber pitched the final 1.1 innings in relief, fanning three.

Derek Ranck had two hits for Wayne State. Hill picked up his third win to move to 3-1.

Game Two
All nine of Mercyhurst's hits were singles, but the Lakers used them wisely to take a 6-2 final in the second game of the doubleheader.

Brian Espersen started and shut out Wayne State over six innings of work, holding the Warriors to just three hits and three walks. He struck out eight as he improved to 3-0.

The two teams were scorless heading into the third inning, when Mercyhurst scored twice despite getting just one hit. Adam Gray led off the frame with a single through the left side and later scored on a groundout by Jamie Walczak. Dan Bertolini, who had reached earlier on a fielder's choice when Wayne State tried but failed through out Gray at second on a bunt attempt, scored on a groundout by Brian Sanders.

The Lakers then put the game away with a four-run inning in the sixth. The first five hitters of the inning all singled. Jeff Stoll led of with a base hit and pinch hitter Kevin Nowak beat out a bunt. Trey Bennett followed with an RBI single and Sean Weyant beat out another sacrifice attempt. Gray then singled in Nowak. Then, with two outs, pinch hitter John Blike and David Lough added run scoring singles to cap the rally.

Seven of Mercyhurst's nine hits came in the inning.

The Warriors got two runs in the sixth before Ryan Schreiber entered the game to get the final out.

Gray went 2-for-3 and Bennett was 2-for-4 with a stolen base. Lough's hit in the sixth inning extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

Dane Little took the loss for Wayne State.

Mercyhurst is 13-7 after the day's action, while Wayne State checks in at 13-6. Both teams are 2-2 in the GLIAC.