Adam Gray

April 26, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Mercyhurst College baseball team is ranked eighth in the latest North Central Region poll by the NCAA. The top six teams in the final poll earn bids to the NCAA North Central Regional Championship.

Mercyhurst, 22-15 overall and 8-8 in the GLIAC, fell two spots after a 2-4 week against the region's top two teams, No. 1 Grand Valley State and No. 2 Ashland. The Lakers dropped a pair at Ashland during the week, then fell on Saturday in the first two against GVSU. But on Sunday, Mercyhurst rebounded to sweep a twinbill from Grand Valley, including a shutout in game two.

Saginaw Valley is No. 3 in the poll, followed by Southern Indiana and SIU-Edwardsville to round out the top five. Wayne State is sixth and St. Joseph's (Indiana) is seventh in the eight-team ranking.

In the other regional baseball rankings, Mercyhurst is ranked sixth by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).

Mercyhurst has six games this week to improve upon their record. The Lakers travel crosstown to face rival Gannon on today (Thursday) at noon. The team then heads to Northwood for a four-game series on Saturday and Sunday.