April 13, 2008

ERIE, Pa. - Mercyhurst's defense pulled off a three-to-four-to-two double play to get out of a sixth-inning jam during Sunday's nightcap and eek out a 4-3 softball victory over Lake Superior State.

MC (17-19 overall, 4-8 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) also out-hit LSSU 11-6 in the opener to cruise to a 9-4 victory.

Lake Superior State (6-24 overall, 2-10 GLIAC) cut a 4-1 deficit to 4-2 in the fifth inning when Rachel Hall walked, advanced to third on a double by Nichole Dunford and eventually scored on an error.

Lorrie Chaperon led off the sixth inning with a pinch-hit home run, cutting Mercyhurst's lead to 4-3. With one out, back-to-back errors enabled Hall to reach first and advance to third. She was thrown out at home plate by MC's second baseman as LSSU hit into a double play.

Jennie Elliott, who contributed an RBI double in the first inning, finished to 2-for-3 at the plate, while Dunford, Nikki Christensen, Amber Kern and Chaperon had one hit each. Elliott also took the pitching loss. She gave up three earned runs on seven hits while going the distance. She totaled five strikeouts and three walks.

Elliott also slammed a three-run homer in the fifth inning of the first game, and Dunford added a solo home run in the seventh. April Brandt and Lacey Knoop hit doubles, while Hall and Kern had a single each.

LSSU starting pitcher Stephanie Reveley took the loss, giving up seven runs on seven hits, two strikeouts and three walks. Christensen entered the game with two out in the fourth inning. She allowed two runs on four hits, four strikeouts and no walks. Mercyhurst hit two home runs for three RBIs.

The Lakers are scheduled to play a non-conference twinbill at Alma on Thursday.