The Mercer Mustangs Baseball Team was defeated by the Lackawanna County Falcons 4-2 on Friday, April 3 on the home field. The Falcons scored 3 of their 4 points in the fifth inning of the game.
Despite the temperature in the high 60s that Friday, the clouds and wind made it feel much cooler.
MCCC came into the game with a record of 17-6 while Lackawanna entered the game with a 8-16 record.
Leading into the game Russ Stipenski, Head Baseball Coach at MCCC, said “I’d like them to define themselves by playing the game hard and the game the right way”
It was a hitless game throughout the first three innings. Until the fourth inning when Lackawanna got riled up. Freshman Sean Moore, who had a 2-2 count, hit a RBI double bringing Jake Verbitsky home to score.
Before the game Lackawanna Head Baseball coach Mike McCarry said “We have to force them (Mercer) out of their comfort zone and try and bury them early,” he had a clear plan for his team.
On the mound there was a momentum shift for MCCC in the fourth inning. John Koch started off the game as the pitcher but was pulled out after giving up three hits to the opponent.
Lackawanna was able to score three more runs in the fifth inning putting Lackawanna up 4-0 going into the sixth inning.
Freshman pitcher Nico Nattle called this their defining moment of the game.
On the other hand Mercer seemed to turn it up a notch in the seventh inning.
A fielding mistake by Lackawanna’s shortstop allowed Kevin Stewart to reach base safely, which cleared the way for Geno Bianco to score a point and moved Sladde Harril onto second base.”
It didn’t stop there for the Mustangs, they went on to score another run. Despite the efforts of Mercer it was too late, and they ended up falling short to Lackawanna.
Lackawanna carried out their plan, resulting in a win for them that Friday.
Pleased with the victory Nattle said “We have a great team here who has a family-like bond, we love each other, and you just got to trust in your teammates as best as you can”
Freshman pitcher for Mercer John Koch said “We got really pissed off that we lost, and it was a game we thought we should’ve won because I think that in general we’re just a better team. After we played them the next day we definitely proved that.”
Third base sophomore Geno Bianco stated “Obviously we didn’t get the win but I think it was a good thing for us and we learned from it.”
Stupienski shared his key takeaways from the game. He said, “We pitched great, I thought we played great defense, it’s just that I guess sometimes, even with an older group, and a very talented group, we’re just not going to have it some days.”
MCCC men’s baseball team went on to play Lackawanna on April 4 at Lackawanna and beat them in a double header 28-6, and 5-3.
