May 11, 2007

Box Score

MIDLAND, Mich. - Mercyhurst was eliminated from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championships after a 5-3 loss to Ashland. It followed a 6-3 loss to Grand Valley State in the first game Mercyhurst played on day two after an opening round 10-8 win over Ashland on day one of the tournament.

Ashland jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first against Steve Grife, but the freshman righty settled down after the inning, allowing just two more runs over his final six innings.

In the Eagle first, one run scored on a throwing error. A second run scored on an Eric Zattlin rip through the left side and Josh Davidson capped the inning with a sacrifice fly.

Mercyhurst got one run in the top of the second, then tied it up with a pair in the third. John Blike walked in the second and moved to third on a two-out double by Adam Gray into the gap in left center. Dan Bertolini followed with a chop down the third baseline that scored Blike.

Jamie Walczak singled to lead off the third inning and moved to second on a sacrifice by David Lough. The sophomore then scored on a Joe Luli single through the right side. Blike and Weyant then stroked consecutive base hits to plate Luli and tie the game at 3-3.

Ashland jumped right back in front with a run in the bottom of the frame. Zattlin picked up his second RBI with a single through the right side that scored Casey Jirsa.

The Eagles added an insurance run in the seventh when Jirsa scored again, this time on a ground out by Justin Richards.

Grife took the loss, surrendering four earned runs in seven innings on 10 hits and four walks. James Ludwig closed out the game with a scoreless inning of relief.

It was his 21st appearance of the season, extending the school record he set the previous day.

Blike went 2-for-3 with a walk. Luli and Bertolini each went 2-for-4.

Ben Minard notched the win for Ashland, scattering nine hits and two walks over eight innings. He struck out four. Simon Liston finished the game for the save with a perfect ninth.

Tyson Rowland had three hits to lead Ashland. Richards, Zattlin and Davidson had two apiece.

The loss eliminated Mercyhurst from the tournament. Blike hit .500 during the conference postseason, Walczak posted a .462 average over the three games.

The Lakers now await a potential bid to the NCAA North Central Regional. Mercyhurst is currently ranked sixth in the NCAA North Central rankings. The GLIAC and Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) champions receive automatic postseason bids. The next four best teams in the rankings will also receive bids to the six team tournament. The bracket will be announced Sunday night.