Feb. 22, 2007

Box Score

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Mercyhurst jumped out to an 8-1 lead, but No. 25 Nova Southeastern came back to win a 17-12 final in a game where the two teams combined for 11 errors.

Joe Luli went 3-for-5 with a double, drove in four runs and scored twice to lead Mercyhurst (0-1). Jamie Walczak was 2-for-4 and scored four times.

The Lakers put a six spot on the scoreboard in the first inning and held an 8-1 lead through an inning and a half. In the first, each of Mercyhurst's first seven runners reached base. Walczak opened the game by reaching on an error and scored on a sac fly by Brian Sanders. Jeff Stoll later doubled in both David Lough and Luli to put Mercyhurst ahead 3-0. Dan Bertolini also added a run scoring single in the inning.

Lough led off the second with a tripled and scored on a Luli base hit. In

The Sharks cut it to 8-5 in the bottom of the second, but the Lakers added two more in the third for a 10-5 advantage. Walczak doubled to lead off the frame and Lough was intentionally walked before a Luli double plated both runners.

Mercyhurst still led 11-8 after five innings, but Nova Southeastern (8-3) went on to score nine total runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. The Lakers added a single run in the top of the ninth for the final score.

James Ludwig took the loss for Mercyhurst. He allowed three runs in sixth inning on three hits and two walks. Nick Carris did not allow an earned run in three innings of relief to pick up the victory for NSU. He fanned four and held the Lakers to just a hit and a walk.

Lough went 2-fo-4 with three runs scored, tripled and stole a base. Stoll and Josh Schmidt also had two hits apiece.

Mercyhurst will look to regroup quickly with a game against Millersville on Friday in Fort Lauderdale at 7:00 PM.