Box Score
WEST LAWN, Pa. - Mercyhurst left-hander Matt Minnick was masterful in tossing a complete-game, four-hitter to lift No. 18 Mercyhurst to a 6-1 victory over No. 17 West Chester in a second-round matchup in the NCAA Atlantic Regional Friday evening at Owls Field at Ted Palka Park.
West Chester (37-13) falls into the loser's bracket and will play Shepherd University in an elimination game on Saturday at 3 p.m. - weather permitting. Mercyhurst moves on in the winner's bracket to take on No. 2 Millersville (48-5) at 7 p.m.
Minnick (7-1) allowed just an RBI groundout in the top of the third inning that plated
Justin Roman (Berwyn, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and made the score 4-1 in favor of Mercyhurst. However, the Lakers had put up that four-spot in the bottom of the second and then added two more in the third for all the run support that Minnick would need. The lefty finished the game with five hits allowed and three walks to his nine strikeouts.
Drew Diehl (Unionville, Pa./Unionville) went 2-for-4 on the day while
Tyler Coleman (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown),
Nick Ward (Unionville, Pa./Unionville) and
Nick Bateman (Aston, Pa./Malvern) collected the other hits.
West Chester starting pitcher
Eric Close (Berwyn, Pa./Haverford)Â (5-1) lasted seven full innings. Outside of the second and third frames, the tall righty fared well. He allowed six runs, five earned, on eight hits. He walked two and struck out five. He also hit three batters.
