Twelfth-ranked Mercyhurst University overcame a two-hour lightning delay, the swept a PSAC Western Division doubleheader from the Mountain Cats, 10-0 and 10-3 in a game shortened by darkness, on Friday in Erie.
Scott Thompson collected three hits for Pitt-Johnstown, which fell to 11-29 overall and 8-18 in conference-play.
In the opener, Mercyhurst struck for five runs in the bottom of the first and got strong pitching from Chris Vallimont on its way to the 10-0 victory.
The Lakers jumped on Mountain Cat starter
Brady Walker for five consecutive hits to begin the bottom of the first and used two-run singles from Drew Delsignore and Collin Fantaskey to open-up an early 5-0 lead.
Collin O'Donnell's RBI triple in the Mercyhurst fourth inning increased it 6-0.
Following the game's second lightning delay, the Lakers added three more runs in the fifth and one in the sixth.
Vallimont pitched five scoreless innings for Mercyhurst and held Pitt-Johnstown to just one base runner, a second inning single by
Scott Thompson. Vallimont also fanned 11.
Walker suffered the loss and slipped to 2-5 after allowing six runs on nine hits over the first four innings. Walker also struck out five and walked two.
Along with Thompson's single,
Mason Prickett doubled for the Mountain Cats.
In game two, Mercyhurst broke open a tie game with five runs in the fourth inning to complete the sweep with the 10-3 victory.
Delsignore's two-run homer in the Mercyhurst first gave the Lakers an early lead, but Pitt-Johnstown answered with two in the second to tie it.
Scott Lucas' ground out scored Thompson, and
Tanner Cook singled through the left side to plate
Ty Treese.
Mercyhurst regained the lead with five in the third, highlighted by Kenneth Robinson's three-run homer, before the Mountain Cats got a run back in the fifth on
Ben Foose's RBI ground out.
That's all the closer it would get. Mercyhurst made it 10-3 in the fifth and the game was halted due to darkness.
Smith had two hits, including a triple, and Thompson chipped-in two hits to lead Pitt-Johnstown.
Trent Martin took the loss after surrendering eight runs (7 earned) on 11 hits in four innings. Martin, who dropped to 1-2, also struck out six and walked two.
With the sweep, the Lakers improved to 30-10 overall and 19-7 on the PSAC West.
Pitt-Johnstown will close out the 2018 regular season and celebrate Senior Day on Saturday against the Lakers at 1 and 3 p.m. at Point Stadium. Between games of the doubleheader, the Mountain Cats will recognize this year's seniors… Nate Bearer, Dan Clark, Brad Coleman, Tanner Cook, Cam Hess, Mason Prickett, Shane Supanick, and Nemo Trexler.
