CARY, N.C. - The Mansfield University baseball team (2-3 overall) powered their way to a 19-8 victory over Goldey-Beacom College (7-1 overall) in game one of a non-conference doubleheader at the USA Complex in Cary, N.C. on Friday afternoon, Feb. 24. The Mounties fell in game two, 10-0.
The Mountaineer offense pounded out 15 hits on their way to 19 runs to give the Lightning their first loss of the season.
The Mounties got on the board in the top of the first inning when Zachary Shertzer doubled to left field to plate Shay Gustafson.
The Mounties extended their lead to 6-0 after plating two runs in the top of the second and three more in the top half of the third.
Ryan Verbonitz blasted a two-run homer in the second and Marcus Nales (2) and Shertzer drove in runs in the third to highlight the rally.
However, Goldey-Beacom responded with a three-run bottom of the fourth before matching that effort in the fifth to knot the score at 6-6.
After a scoreless sixth inning, the Mounties regained the lead with a four-run top of the seventh thanks to two unearned runs and a two-RBI single by Brittain Shander to go ahead 10-6 heading into the eighth.
The flood gates opened in the top of the eighth when the Mounties scored six runs on four hits and took advantage of one Lightning error, ultimately putting the game out of reach. Jackson Halla, Josh Farina, Brittain Shander, and Shertzer (2) drove in runs during the run.
The Mounties added two runs in the ninth, highlighted by a two-run double by Ryan Scott to highlight the inning.
Verbonitz homered for the first time in his career while Shertzer and Shander combined for seven RBI to lead the Mountaineers on offense. Nales also drove in a pair of runs, while Shertzer added Scott doubles.
Darin Miller and Adam McEvoy homered to lead the Lightning offense.
Mountaineer starter Eric Gustofson went 4 and 1/3 innings and struck out five in the no-decision. Joseph Gleason earned the victory in relief, going three-complete innings, allowing two runs, and striking out a pair.
In game two, the Mountaineers offense went cold, while the Lightning totaled 12 hits on their way to 10 runs to earn the split on the afternoon.
Tommy Federici earned the win in the circle for Goldey-Beacom, tossing six-scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. Johnny Kampes led the Lightning offense with three hits and two RBI.
Three different Mountaineers recorded hits, led by Dylan Mercedes who belted a double.
NEXT UP
The Mounties have the morning off before facing Dominican University of New York at 4 p.m. in Cary, N.C. in non-conference action.
