4/12/24
 
WEST WINDSOR TWP., NJ – Three runs through the middle innings broke a 2-2 tie and propelled Mercer County CC past Lackawanna College, 5-3, in a Region XIX Division II baseball contest on Friday afternoon in New Jersey.
 
The Falcons (14-17, 4-3) were tied with the Vikings (22-12, 8-1) through the first three innings, but Mercer broke through with a sac fly, followed by a one-run single in the fourth, then added another sac fly in the sixth inning. Lackawanna answered with a run-scoring double off the bat of John Hughes (First Year; Hamilton, NJ), but the Falcons were limited to just six hits as a team, stranding six runners, as Mercer slowed down the normally-potent Lackawanna offensive attack.
 
Jake Kelleher (First Year; Exeter, PA) had a two-run single in the top of the second inning to initially give Lackawanna the lead at 2-0. In the bottom of the second, the Vikings had loaded the bases with nobody out, but a fielder's choice, followed by a strikeout, threatened to end the inning without any damage. Unfortunately, for the Falcons, a two-out double scored a pair to tie the game.
 
In the fourth, a leadoff double, followed by a single, eventually had the Vikings with runners on second and third with nobody out. A sac fly to left scored the go-ahead run, and a two-out single scored another run to give Mercer the 4-2 advantage.
 
Mercer added to the lead in the sixth inning. The leadoff batter was hit by a pitch, and back-to-back singles loaded the bases. Another sac fly scored one run, but the Falcons got a pop up and a ground out to third to end the inning without giving up anything more.
 
Trailing 5-2, Lackawanna's best chance came in the top of the eighth. A one-out walk by Michael Rickert (Sophomore; Moosic, PA) gave the Falcons a base runner. A ground out advanced Rickert to second, and, with two down, Hughes doubled Rickert home to cut the deficit to 5-3 and give the Falcons some life. But, a fly out ended the inning before Lackawanna could get anything else going.
 
In the ninth, the Falcons got a baserunner when Brooks Henderson IV (First Year; Feasterville, PA) was hit by a pitch to lead the inning off. Mercer buckled down from there, though, striking out the next batter, throwing out Henderson trying to steal second, and getting a ground out to end the inning and the game, securing the first victory in the crucial three-game series.
 
Hughes was 2-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI, while Kelleher was 1-for-4 with two RBI. Rickert went 1-for-2 with a run scored and two walks. Mason Sike (First Year; McKees Rocks, PA) picked up the loss, giving up three runs on six hits in three innings of relief.
 
Lackawanna College will continue its series with Mercer County CC on Monday, April 15^th, with a doubleheader at home against the Vikings. First pitch of game one is at 3:00pm ET at Scranton HS. In the meantime, the Falcons are set to travel to Montgomery College (MD) on Sunday, April 14^th, for a doubleheader in non-region action. The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12:00pm ET in Rockville, MD.