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NASHVILLE – Three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning propelled Mercyhurst past the Bloomsburg University baseball team, 4-1, on Saturday afternoon in the Huskies first action at the Trevecca Nazarene Baseball Classic.

Bloomsburg (6-7) struck first, pushing across a run in the opening frame. Eric Frain (Philadelphia/Archbishop Ryan) led off the game with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch, later moving to third on a ground out. Following a hit batter, Corey Baiada (Harleysville/LaSalle) brought home Frain with a sacrifice on a safety squeeze play. Baiada bunted to third and the Lakers attempted to force out Frain at home, but the junior was safe at the plate for the game's first run. The Huskies placed runners at second and third with one out in the inning after taking the early run, but Mercyhurst starter Dan Altavilla worked his way out of the jam with no further damage done.

Bloomsburg's Casey Cooperman (Allentown/Parkland) kept the Lakers (8-3) off the board until the fifth when Joe Pantano singled in a run for the 1-1 tie.

Mercyhurst threatened to take the lead in the seventh, placing runners at second and third but Cody Heane (McClure/Indian Valley) came on in relief of Cooperman and worked a strikeout and a ground out to get out of trouble.

The Lakers finally broke through in the home half of the eighth, however. A hit batter put the leadoff man aboard, but the lead runner was forced out at second on a failed sacrifice attempt. Giancarlo Saia then doubled down the left field line to place two men in scoring position before Hank Morrison delivered the key moment of the game with his two-RBI triple to left center. Another hit by Anthony Tomasone drove home Morrison for the three-run lead.

That was enough offense for the Lakers pitching staff which was excellent on the day. Altavilla (2-0) went eight strong innings, scattering five hits and a run while striking out nine. Adam Curyto worked around a walk in the ninth for his first save.

Cooperman was strong for the Huskies, picking up a no-decision after tossing 6.1 innings of one-run ball. The senior did not walk a batter and struck out two. Heane (1-1) also fanned two in his 1.2 innings of work.

Bloomsburg spread its five hits among five different players – Frain, Nick Mazza (Carbondale/Carbondale), Joey Casselberry (Eagleville/Methacton), Tim Ravel (Sinking Spring/Wilson) and Brady West (Harleysville/North Penn) all had singles. Mazza, Ravel and Baiada all had one stolen base apiece as well.

The Huskies return to action Sunday morning vs. No. 11 Grand Valley State, again on the campus of Trevecca Nazarene.