April 10, 2007

ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst/Gannon rivalry will be in full swing on Wednesday as the Lakers host the Golden Knights in both baseball and softball. The first pitch in baseball is set for 1:00 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Baseball Field, while the softball action gets underway at 41st & Old French at 3:00 p.m.

It will be the second meeting for the team's in both sports in 2007. The two schools split a softball doubleheader on March 29 at Gannon (15-5, 2-10) and the Lakers notched a 17-6 win over the Golden Knights in a nine-inning baseball game on Monday at Mercyhurst.

Mercyhurst is 16-11 in baseball in 2007, while Gannon is just 5-21. In softball, the Lakers hold a record of 12-13 against Gannon's 20-8 mark.

In Monday's baseball game, David Lough scored five times, drove in four runs and had four hits to go along with a pair of steals. Trey Bennett hit a grand slam for the Lakers as well. Brian Chad picked up his second win of the season, keeping the Golden Knights off balance with five innings of two-hit ball.

For Gannon, Brad Kozak drew three walks and Drew Rojek tossed a scoreless ninth.

On the year, Lough leads the Lakers and ranks among the GLIAC leaders in nearly every offensive category, including batting average (.441), slugging percentage (.755), on-base percentage (.508), runs (33), hits (45), runs batted in (28), triples (6), home runs (5), total bases (77) and steals (tied, 12).

Newcomer Trey Bennett and first-year starter Josh Schmidt have also keyed the offense. Bennett is batting .329 on the year with four homers, 17 runs batted in and 12 steals. Schmidt, meanwhile, checks in at .338 with a pair of homers and 19 RBIs.

Joe Luli has been a solid run producer with three homers and 18 RBIs.

Brian Espersen has led the pitching staff in 2007. Among the national leaders in K/9 innings, he leads the team and ranks among the league leaders with 38 punch outs. He also has a 3-1 record with a 2.22 earned run average.

Eric Drobotij may get a start as well. He has a 7.43 ERA in 2007, but allowed just one run in five innings against Saginaw Valley State in his last start.

The bullpen has been solid for the Lakers with four players tallying at least one save.

For Gannon, Erik Harpster and Ford Eisenman power the offense at the top of the order. The outfielders lead the team with averages of .367 and .351, respectively. Eisenman also has a team-high 13 steals, with Harpster checking in with 11. Harpster also leads the team with two homers.

The Golden Knights will choose from several options to start on the mound. Greg Radwan has five starts and a 5.11 ERA. Matt Amory has started all four of his appearances. Matt Heslop, Frank Lauria and Nick Licskai also have started multiple contests.

On the softball diamond, Mercyhurst is led by Jen Feret, both the team's top hitter and pitcher. Feret ranks third in NCAA Division II with nine homers and her .446 batting average also rates among the national leaders. The senior also has 27 runs batted in and an astounding .905 slugging percentage. She is 9-of-9 on stolen bases.

Inside the circle, she leads the team with six wins, a 1.58 ERA and 86 strikeouts.

Feret is not the only Laker swinging a hot bat, with Maureen Bailey hitting .421. Megan Houston, the reigning GLIAC Player of the Week, is batting .329 with three homers and 16 RBIs. Erin Ratajczak is batting .382.

Kim Griffin, who is also batting .297, has a 3.41 ERA in eight starts.

Gannon also has a pair of hitters batting over .400 on the year. Jaclyn Corroto is hitting a blistering .495 with three homers and 39 RBIs and Holli Michaels bats .436 in 2007. Kara Hensley leads the team with five homers.

Kelsey Brickman leads the pitching staff with a 2.36 ERA, seven wins and 58 strikeouts. Jenn Kulick is second to Brickman with six wins, a 3.86 ERA and 31 strikeouts.