April 1, 2007

Box Score

ERIE, Pa. - Brian Chad's 6.1 innings of three-hit ball led Mercyhurst to a game one win over Saginaw Valley State, 6-2, but the Cardinals rebounded to win game two of the doubleheader, 5-2.

Game One
Brian Chad struck out seven and scattered three hits and a walk as Mercyhurst captured a 6-2 win.

The lefty retired 15 of the first 16 batters he faced en route to his first win of the season. John Morris entered with one out in the bottom of the seventh and slammed the door shut for his first save of the season.

Mercyhurst jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first powered by a two-run double by Josh Schmidt and an RBI single by Tim Echan that also drove in a pair of runs.

Echan added an RBI single in the third, as the reserve made the most of his starting nod with a 2-for-3 effort and three runs batted in.

Trey Bennett capped the Mercyhurst scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning when took Jeff Schulz's first pitch of the game over the fence in left centerfield.

Jamie Walczak had two hits for the Lakers.

Game Two
Scott Haase tossed a four-hit complete game to knock of Mercyhurst, 5-2, in the fourth and final game of the series.

Laker starter Brian Espersen got into trouble in the first inning with five walks, but settled down as he and relievers Ryan Schreiber and James Ludwig did not issue a free pass over the final six innings.

Saginaw Valley scored a pair of runs in the first inning, but the Lakers cut it to 2-1 in the bottom half on an error that allowed David Lough to score.

The Cardinals extended it to 5-1 before Mercyhurst scored its second run in the bottom of the fifth. Jamie Walczak singled to lead off the inning and Brian Sanders followed with a four-pitch walk. Walczak later came home on a ground rule double by Josh Schmidt.

All three Mercyhurst pitchers lasted 2.1 innings and each struck out three batters, including Ludwig who was perfect to finish the game.

Mercyhurst sits at 15-9 overall and 4-4 in the GLIAC heading into a non-conference twinbill at Tiffin on Tuesday. Saginaw Valley moved to 13-8 on the year and 3-5 in the conference.