MURFREESBORO, NC- The Chowan University dropped two games at home to the visiting Lakers of Mercyhurst on Saturday afternoon.  The Hawks fell to the Lakers 5-2 in the first contest before losing a 6-5 decision in the night cap.   The Lakers are currently ranked #15 in NCAA Division II.  
 
In the first game, Mercyhurst used a five-hit first inning to plate two runs.  The Lakers scored again in the top of the third, scoring three runs to gain a 5-0 lead. 
 
Mercyhurst shut out the Hawks until the home half of the fifth.  Evan Seymour started off the bottom of the inning with a double deep to left field.  Tyler Burden singled up the middle to advance Seymour to third, setting the stage for Josh Catalano's single to plate the first run of the game for the Hawks. 
 
Chowan kept the Lakers at-bay for the remainder of the game, using Brandon Mack's RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 5-2.  Mercyhurst shut down the Hawks after that point to earn the 5-2 victory.
 
Evan Hart went the distance for the Hawks on the mound, scattering 11 hits in seven innings pitched.  Dan Altavilla picked up the win for Mercyhurst. 
 
John Hunter and Drew Mason opened up the home half of second inning of the night cap with back-to-back singles.  Ryan Moore knocked Hunter and Mason in off a double to right center to give the Hawks a 2-0 advantage.  Seymour reached on a drop third strike to set the table for a Colby Wiggins' single to put the Hawks up 3-0. 
 
The Lakers answered back in the top of the third, plating four runs after stringing together three back-to-back singles, and taking advantage of a Hawk error with the bases loaded to make the score 4-3.    


Mercyhurst struck again in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs to pull ahead 6-3.  The Hawks made things interesting with one out in the bottom of the seventh as Wiggins' RBI single with runners on first and third made the score 6-4.  Catalano walked to load the bases, leading to a Lakers' pitching change. 
 
Mack walked to score Will Gurganus to being the Hawks within one.  The Hawks were unable to capitalize on the scoring situation, and fell to the Lakers 6-5.  Bobby Mason took the loss for Chowan on the mound, surrendering six runs in five innings.  Ben Rawding picked up the win on the mound for the Lakers and Tanner Delahoy earned the save. 
 
Drew Mason and Wiggins both finished the afternoon 3-6.  Wiggins also knocked in two RBI's in the night cap. 
 
Chowan falls to 1-7 on the season after Saturday's losses, while Mercyhurst starts the season 2-0.  The Hawks and the Lakers will meet again on Sunday afternoon in a nine inning game to complete the three game series. 
 
First pitch is scheduled for 12:00pm.