It wasn’t pretty, but Joe Spano’s men quickly got back on track this past weekend, taking three of four from the Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats over the weekend.

The Lakers got off to a quick start in the first game after the Lakers’ Domenic DeRenzo drew a lead-off walk from the Mountain Cats’ Brady Walker, later advancing to second on a wild pitch.

Before Laker Alex O’Donnell was able to strike out looking, he stole third and scored on a throwing error by Mountain Cat catcher Dylan Conrad. The Mountain Cats would respond in the home second on a lead-off double by their own Scott Thompson. However, the response was not enough, as the Lakers took the game 5-3 after the two-run lead by the Mountain Cats. Mercyhurst’s Dominic Cecere opened the second with a single and advanced on a sacrifice before Heid rebounded to get out of the inning unscathed.

Pitt-Johnstown’s Zach Zinn then doubled a batter into the second before teammate Pugh drove him in on a single to right. Mountain Cat Nico Pecora reached on a fielder’s choice before a throwing error on Schneider sent teammate Pugh to second; but the Lakers’ Minnick struck out the last two on respective called and swinging third strikes. DeRenzo then walked to open the third and stole second two batters later, repeating and scoring on an Asher Corl throwing error.

Mountain Cat Owen McKeever then responded with a homer to right a batter into the third before the Mountain Cats’ Heid struck out the side in the fourth.

In the end, the Lakers split the series at Pitt-Johnstown, falling 3-6 in game two.

The Mountain Cats picked up right where they left off on Sunday in Erie, with Colin Pasone greeting the Lakers’ Tyler Garbee with a hit batsman and advancing to second on a passed ball; he then advanced to third after Garbee tried to pick him off but was unsuccessful. Thompson drove him in two Mountain Cat batters.

Laker Jack Elliott then doubled a batter into the home first and advanced to third on O’Donnell flying out. Schneider then walked, and Mountain Cat Braxton Roxby hit Hunter Snyder to load the bases before Cecere walked to score Elliott and advanced to second on a rare balk. Josh Surowiec capitalized on the mistake and singled to drive them both in for the Lakers’ first four-run first inning since May 4. The early lead led the Lakers to have their best of the series with a 7-3 victory.

In the final game, the Lakers were victorious, winning 5-4 over the Mountain Cats, once again on Laker turf. The Lakers scored thrice in the third evening, and never ceded the lead from there.