ERIE, Pa. -- Junior Dan Altavilla threw a no-hitter Friday to lead Mercyhurst to a 3-0 win against Clarion, the third pitcher to accomplish the feat under coach Joe Spano. Clarion earned a split of the doubleheader with a 2-1 victory in Game 2.
Altavilla struck out 12 batters in his seven-inning gem. In the bottom of the seventh, Altavilla struck out Nick Maskrey, coaxed Derek Danver into a groundout and then caught Josh Ponsoll looking for strike three, sending the Laker dugout to the mound to mob Altavilla.
Altavilla joins Paul Baumert and Steve Grife as Lakers to throw a no-hitter for Spano.
The Lakers scored all three of their runs in the fifth. Dan Popio hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to plate Angel Martinez. Jake Marinelli followed with a base hit to center, scoring Ryan Siegel. Giancarlo Saia extended the rally with a single to right, plating Brendan Cox.
In the second game, Mercyhurst's Jon Klein and Clarion's Kane McCall matched up in a pitcher's duel. Clarion scored a run in both the first and third, but Klein settled in and held the Eagles off the board the rest of the way. McCall controlled the action for Clarion, but Mercyhurst recorded a hit in the fifth and another in the sixth.
Down 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, the possible tying run was cut down at the plate to end the game.
Klein threw seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He struck out eight hitters.
