Erie, Pa. — Niagara baseball fell to Mercyhurst 12-5 in non-conference action Wednesday afternoon.
The Purple Eagles fell to 11-14, 7-5 MAAC, while the Lakers improved to 9-17, 8-7 NEC.
Niagara wasted little time putting pressure on Mercyhurst starter Peyton Weigand. Jacob Brooks led off with a walk and promptly stole second. Elijha Hammill drew another walk, and Curtis McKay grounded into a fielder's out that pushed the runners to second and third.
Weigand committed a balk that scored Brooks and moved Hammill to third, then walked Rees Kozar. Shawn Cameron singled to left to score Hammill and send Kozar to third. Nick Cote followed with an RBI single to left, scoring Kozar and making it 3-0.
Weigand was chased, and reliever Noah Ehlers entered to face Jason Green, who was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Matthew Ganschow worked a bases-loaded walk, forcing home Cameron with the fourth run of the inning.
Mercyhurst went down in order in the bottom half against Jack Dickinson, who recorded two strikeouts.
The Lakers kicked into gear in the bottom of the second. Dickinson was replaced to start the inning by Johnny Montgomery. Logan Koslin was hit by a pitch to score the first run of the inning, Nathan Harb took over for Montgomery.
Jayden Walker drew a walk to score Zeiser, and Zachary Kourous delivered a sacrifice fly to bring in Holmes Jr. Mike Samarin then walked to reload the bases, and Ranciel Ventura singled to left to score Koslin. Luke Babcock singled up the middle to plate two runs to make it 6-4.
Mercyhurst plated five more runs in the bottom of the third. John Ondus opened the inning for the Purple Eagles with a walk to Zeiser before being replaced by Luke Glenn.
Kourous singled to right, scoring Holmes Jr. and Koslin for two RBI. On the ensuing play, Kourous moved to third on an error, and Walker scored on the miscue. Mike Samarin then tripled to right field to drive in Kourous, extending the lead to 10-4.
Glenn exited for Eddie Dolansky. Luke Babcock then reached on an error, with Samarin scoring on the play to push the lead to 11-4.
Rece Allensworth relieved Dolansky in the sixth and put together a clean frame, striking out two.
Niagara got on the board once again in the top of the seventh as Nick Cote then reached on a fielder's choice that scored McKay from third, trimming the deficit to 11-5.
Mercyhurst added an insurance run in the bottom of the frame when Holmes Jr. scored on a wild pitch to regain a seven run lead.
Andrew Baumgart and Ethan McNish-Heider both got work in the eighth to keep the Lakers off the board.
The Purple Eagles tried to mount a comeback in the ninth but were unable to, ultimately falling 12-5.
Game Notes
Niagara is now 5-5 all-time against Mercyhurst
Cameron tied a career-high with his two base knocks
McNish-Heider made his season debut
McKay is on a six game hitting streak
Up Next
Niagara returns to conference play to face Battle of the Bridge rival Canisius in a three-game series starting Friday April 10 at Bobo Field. First pitch is slated for 3:00 pm.
