Box Score

The Griffin bats came thru and SHU used the pitching of Mike Bittel and Logan Urtz to survive and advance with an 8-1 win over top seed and host Mercyhurst.  SHU improves to 43-12 on the season.
 
Seton Hill produced three hits in the top of the first inning but could not cross the plate.  Garret Vrbanic led off with an infield single but he was caught stealing.  Nick Sell and Chris Miller singled with two outs to put runners on first and third but Cody Herald lined out to center field to end the inning.  Mercyhurst scored a run in the bottom of the second with all the action coming after two outs.  An infield single, a walk and a two out RBI single thru the right side gave the Lakers a 1-0 lead. 
 
The Griffin offense finally broke thru in the top of the fourth.  Herald led off the inning with a single off the third baseman's glove.  Pat McCarthy followed with a homer off of the Star 104 sign on the side of the Erie Insurance Arena to give the Griffins a 2-1 lead.  Mike Bittel was able to strike out two hitters with runners on first and second to end the bottom of the fourth. 
 
Seton Hill scored 5 times in the top of the fifth.  After the first out of the inning, Anthony Fanelli drew a walk and moved to second on a Sell base hit.  Miller was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Herald hit a sac fly to left field to score Fanelli.  McCarthy walked to reload the bases and Matt Malacane knocked in two runs with a single to right center.  Zac Heide followed with two RBI double to the left center field gap to give SHU a 7-1 lead. 
 
The Lakers loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh but Logan Urtz got a fielders choice to end the inning and preserve the 7-1 lead.  Urtz retired the Lakers in order in the eighth on two fine plays by Malacane and Vrbanic.  SHU added an insurance run in the top of the ninth after two outs.  Herald doubled and McCarthy drove in him with a single. 
 
Mike Bittel earned the win with 6 strong innings.  He gave up 1 run on 7 hits while striking out 8 and walking 3.  Logan Urtz threw three shutout innings to earn the save.  He struck out 1.  Zac Heide led the Griffins going 3-3 with 2 RBI.  Nick Sell, Chris Miller, Cody Herald and Pat McCarthy each had two hits. 
 
Seton Hill will play Millersville in an elimination game on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 PM.