April 6, 2008

Game One
Game Two

University Center, Mich. - The Mercyhurst baseball team halted its seven-game skid and notched its first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) win since March 22 Sunday afternoon by topping Saginaw Valley State, 5-4. The Lakers, however, were edged in game two, 3-2.

In game one, senior John Morris followed 4.1 shutout innings from starter Wes Craig, pitching 1.2 hitless innings to pick up his fifth save of the season and the 18th of his career, which moved him past Nate Goodrich as Mercyhurst's all-time saves leader.

Craig (3-2) registered his team-leading third mound victory of the season for the Lakers, not allowing an earned run. He surrendered only three hits and struck out three.

All four of Saginaw Valley State's runs came in the fifth and sixth, and all were unearned. James Ludwig made his conference-leading 16th appearance, walked four and allowed three unearned runs, but ran his streak of consecutive appearances without an earned run to 11.

Freshman Jonathan Keppler led the Lakers at the plate with two hits, a run scored and an RBI. He gave his team a 1-0 lead in the first by scoring on a wild pitch. His RBI single in the sixth also proved to be the deciding run, as Saginaw Valley State struck for three runs to cut the lead to 5-4 in the bottom of the inning.

Jamie Walczack went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base. Joe Luli also drove in a run.

Mercyhurst nearly came away with the sweep, but a seventh-inning Cardinal rally broke a 2-2 tie and gave the Cardinals their 16th win on the year.

Laker starter Steve Grife took the ball into the seventh, but allowed a single and a walk to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third and the following batter was intentionally walked to set up a double play. However, Reed Welker put the ball in play the Lakers were unable to make a play, allowing Chase Coulter to cross home plate with the game-winning run.

Grife (2-4) suffered the loss despite allowed three runs on six hits and fanning four. Scott Sierzenga started and allowed two runs on four hits through 5.1 innings, but Jon Tibaudo picked up his first winning of the season after pitching 1.2 perfect innings.

Mercyhurst managed just four hits in the game, and senior Josh Schmidt drove in both runs with an RBi double in the third.

Mercyhurst moves to 13-15 overall and 2-10 in conference play with Sunday's split. The team travels to Gannon for a GLIAC doubleheader on Wednesday, April 9. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.