NUTTER FORT, W.V. - Austin Lewis threw a gem and five different players drove in runs to lead the Mansfield University baseball team to a 6-0 victory in game one to earn a split with Salem University to kick off a four-game non-conference series at Frank Loria Memorial Field on Friday, April 7. The Mounties fell, 5-0, in game two.

In game one, the Mounties (6-19 overall) were efficient with their opportunities on offense, plating six runs on as many hits, coming from five different players. The Mounties did not commit an error, while the Tigers (13-19 overall) suffered from two.
Brittain Shander, Jacob Houtz (3B), Marcus Nales, Jeffrey Coakley, and Brett Stewart drove in runs for MU.

Lewis limited Salem to two runs (one earned) in 5 and 1/3 innings of work, adding four strikeouts. Bobby Curry threw the final inning and 2/3, surrendering just one hit and no runs.

It took until the fourth inning, but the Mounties erased an early 1-0 deficit with two runs thanks to an RBI-single by Coakley and heads-up baserunning by Zachary Shertzer, who stole third before coming around to score on the play.

The Mounties carried the momentum into the top of the fifth as they plated four runs on three hits and took advantage of one Tigers' error to build a 6-0 lead and ultimately put the game out of reach. Alan Bautista kicked off the rally with a single, while Stewart, Shander, Houtz, and Nales picked up RBIs in the frame.

In game two, the Tigers flipped the script and gave the Mounties a taste of their own medicine with a 5-0 victory.

Shander collected half of the Mountaineers' hits, finishing with two singles. Todd Erney landed the loss on the mound, allowing four runs (two earned) in 2.1 innings. Evan Woznick threw two scoreless innings in relief.

Sam Schmitt earned his fourth victory in the circle for Salem, tossing a complete-game shutout, fanning 13 Mountaineers. Brett Ehr led the Tigers' offense with two RBIs.

NEXT UP
The Mounties conclude their non-conference series with Salem tomorrow with a noon doubleheader.