Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The Griffin baseball team made the trip back to Erie on Friday afternoon, this time to battle Mercyhurst in a PSAC West Doubleheader.  The Griffins lost an old fashioned pitcher's dual in game one by the score of 1-0.  Jordan Fuller went the distance and silenced the Mercyhurst bats as the Griffins came away with the doubleheader split following a 3-1 victory in game two.  Seton Hill improves to 30-13 overall and 17-5 in PSAC West play.  It marks the sixth consecutive season the Griffin baseball program has reached the 30 win plateau.

Griffin starter Mike Bittel and Mercyhurst's Dan Altavilla put a ton of 0's on the board in game one.  Through the first three innings, both teams only had one base runner reach base.  The Griffins got two hits in the fourth, but a double play ended the threat.  Seton Hill had their best chance to crack the scoreboard in the fifth.  After an out to start the inning, Jesse Cooper drew a four pitch walk.  Matt Malacane followed with a single that put runners on second and third with one out.  The Griffins tried a safety squeeze play but Cooper was out at the plate.  A strikeout ended the inning.  Mercyhurst got their only run in the fifth as Bittel walked his only three hitters of the game and a sacrifice fly gave the Lakers a 1-0 lead.  Altaville was then able to strikeout the last five Griffin hitters to end the contest. 

Mike Bittel was the hard luck loser.  He went 5 2/3 innings, giving up just two hits while striking out six.  Matt Malacane had two of the four Griffin hits.

The Griffins got on the scoreboard first in game two.  In the third, Zac Heide drew a leadoff walk.  He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Schmidt.  Heide then scored when Brendan Costantino singled.  Anthony Fanelli followed with a basehit to put runners on first and third.  Costantino then scored on a wild pitch to give the Griffins a 2-0 lead.  The Lakers then scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to trim the lead to 2-1.  SHU added an insurance run in the top of the seventh,  Chris Miller led off with a single.  Ryan Hayden then pinch ran for Miller.  Matt Malacane sacrificed Hayden to second with a bunt.  Jesse Cooper then singled to put runners on first and third.  Heide then drove in Hayden with a bunt base hit to increase the lead to 3-1. 

Jordan Fuller earned a complete game victory.  He gave up 1 run on 6 hits while striking out 7.  Chris Miller was 3-3 for the Griffins.  Anthony Fanelli added two hits.

Seton Hill will close out the four game set by hosting the Lakers on Saturday afternoon.