BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Mountaineer baseball team led early in a pair of non-conference contests, but D'Youville clawed back to take both games on their home field on Tuesday afternoon, April 25.
The Mounties fell 9-6 in game one and 9-4 in the nightcap.
The Mounties fell to 12-27 overall while D'Youville improved to 17-21 overall.
The Mounties received quality starting pitching, four hits from
Zach Spray, and a home run from
Zachary Shertzer, but D'Youville erased early deficits in both games to earn the non-conference sweep.
GAME ONE: Saints 9, Mounties 6
The Mounties struck first in the top of the fourth inning when Shertzer belted a two-run home run to the opposite field. The homer was the first of the season for the junior.
D'Youville cut the Mounties' lead to one with a run in the bottom half, but the Mounties answered with a three-spot in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 5-1. Spray hit an RBI double before
Ryan Scott added an RBI single to highlight the rally.
However, D'Youville erupted for five runs one five hits and took advantage of one Mountaineer error to take their first lead, 6-5, heading into the sixth inning.
In the top of the sixth, Spray hit his second RBI double of the game to knot the score at 6-6, but the Saints answered in the bottom half, this time plating three runs on four hits to build a 9-6 advantage before securing the victory.
Todd Erney got the start for Mansfield and turned in a quality four innings, limiting the Saints to one run on two hits.
Luke Payne was dealt the loss after being charged with four runs on six hits in 1.2 innings.
Spray (two doubles) and Shertzer (HR) combined for five hits, four RBI and two runs scored to lead the Mountaineers on offense.
For D'Youville, Jon Simpson went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, and three runs scored to power the offense, while Blaise Kolbert picked up the victory in relief.
GAME TWO: Saints 9, Mounties 4
D'Youville struck first with a solo run in the bottom of the first inning, but the Mounties rallied for four runs in the top of the second to take the lead.
Kurt Biesecker,
Brett Stewart, and Scott picked up RBIs during the rally and the Mounties also took advantage of two Saints' errors.
However, the Saints erupted for six runs on five hits and took advantage of one Mountie error to regain the lead, 7-4 heading into the fifth.
D'Youville added two more runs in the sixth and shut the Mounties out the rest of the way to secure the sweep.
The Saints led in hits 10-9 and committed one more error than the Mounties at 2-1.
Stewart finished 3-for-3 with an RBI while Spray went 2-for-3 with a run and a double to lead the Mounties' offense.
Justin Marykwas got the start for Mansfield, tossing three-complete innings to limit the Saints to one run on two hits.
Jacob Houtz took the loss, allowing six runs (zero earned) in 2/3 innings.
NEXT UP
The Mounties host Bloomsburg on Saturday, April 29 at Joseph Shaute Field for a noon PSAC East doubleheader on Senior Day.
