One hit wonder, Tampa defeats Mercyhurst 4-2

Mercyhurst and Tampa stand on their respective lines after both teams were introduced, eagerly waiting for the pregame festivities to conclude. Photo by Jack Butler.

Jack Butler jbutle58@lakers.mercyhurst.edu

CARY, North Carolina – Mercyhurst and Tampa were at one of baseball’s cathedrals last night playing in the Division II College World Series. The Lakers (34-15) winners of the Atlantic Regional faced the Spartans (42-14) in the fourth game of the tournament. It was a perfect day for baseball at Coleman Field, USA Baseball Complex and pregame festivities were already underway. The players, coaches, staffs, and starting lineups for both teams were announced, a young man threw out the first pitch, and a brilliant young lady sang the Star-Spangled Banner.

It was time to play ball and the Lakers jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the 2nd off Spartans starter Kevin Pimentel. Matthew Schneider lead off the inning with a single to left, followed by a Josh Surowiec drive to center brought in by Danny Blair but he dropped the ball. With Schneider on third and Surowiec at second Hunter Snyder grounded out to the shortstop and Schneider jogged home. Luke Baranchak made it 2-0 Lakers when he laced a slow-rolling ball down the first baseline, Cole Perry could not field it, and threw it over the pitcher’s head. Surowiec touched the plate and Baranchak alertly moved up to second. Pimentel was able to get out of trouble with no more damage being done.

Josh Surowiec of Mercyhurst finishing his swing, with his teammates looking on from the dugout, as he drills a long double off Tampa center fielder, Danny Blair’s glove. Photo by Neil Stafford.

It was a pitcher’s duel the rest of the 71/2 innings between Pimentel and Laker starter Tyler Garbee (8-3 3.13). Both pitchers went a combined 12.0 scoreless innings, allowing only seven hits. Scoring chances for both teams were far and few between and Mercyhurst could not send a third guy to cross the plate.

Pimentel (12-2 2.56) went 7.0 innings, yielding 2 earned runs, 4 hits, striking out eight, hitting a batter, and no free passes were given. At one point he retired nine straight Lakers, striking out four, and allowing one baserunner via a base hit.

Garbee was dealing a 7-inning shutout when he got into trouble in the home half of the eighth. There were runners on first and second when Garbee left a pitch having too much of the plate and Tampa’s Danny Servin blooped a single over Laker’s shortstop, Alex O’Donnell. Blair touched home, and the Spartans were on board, gaining momentum.

Nick Derr came in for the limping Drew Ehrhard in the top of the seventh and went first to third, while Servin stayed at first. The Laker right-hander managed to produce a foul out to Schneider at first but drilled Mikey Navarette, his third hits batsman off the evening. Manager Spano walked out of the first base dugout, grabbed the ball from Garbee, who received a standing ovation from the fans and his teammates.

Mercyhurst right-handed hurler, Tyler Garbee, walks off the field to the first base dugout, with his teammates waiting and the spectators giving their approval. Photo by Jack Butler.

Adam Jeannette entered a stressful situation with bases loaded and two out, the score in favor of Mercyhurst 2-1. However, that would not last as Jeannette got ahead of Tampa’s Perry with a 1-2 count, then giving up a base clearing triple down the right-field line. Tampa went ahead 4-2 in the 8th and Jacinto Arredondo shut down Mercyhurst in the top of the 9th.

Mercyhurst was defeating Tampa, the #3 ranked team in the country, for eight innings and just one bad pitch and one good swing was when the wheels fell off. The Lakers lost in heartbreaking fashion but should keep their heads high because they battled toe to toe with one of the best teams in DII baseball.

The Lakers have an off day on Monday, then return to Coleman Field to take on the Indians from Catawba on Tuesday. Starting pitchers for both teams have not been announced. First pitch is set for 3 pm, NCAA.com and Laker Athletics will carry the game.