Lake Worth, Fla – Behind a solid pitching performance by Andrew Virgili, the Lynn University baseball team defeated Mercyhurst, 4-3 Friday afternoon at Santaluces Athletic Park.  The Fighting Knights improve to 8-7 while the Lakers fall to 8-3.

Virgili (4-1) went seven innings in the win, allowing just two earned runs on eight hits while striking out seven.  Shawn Kale came into the game in the eighth and allowed just one run in two innings while fanning two to earn his first save of the season.

After allowing a run in the top of the first, Lynn rallied to take the lead after its half of the frame.  Austin Smith led off the inning with a single to left field and advanced to second as Mike Diorio laid down a perfect bunt for a single.  Smith would score with one out on Richie McVey's first pitch single to right as Diorio advanced 180 feet to third.  Dane Derstine then drove in Diorio with a sacrifice fly to give Lynn the 2-1 lead.

Mercyhurst would tie it up in the fourth and after Virgili retired the side in the seventh, the Fighting Knights exploded for two runs with all the damage done with two outs.  Smith was hit by a pitch to start the rally and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Diorio then laced a ground ball to the shortstop who mishandled it allowing Diorio to reach safely and putting the go-ahead run on third.  Anthony Boza then gave Lynn a 4-2 advantage as he drove in both runners with a double to right.

That would be the end of Virgili's day as Kale allowed a run in the eighth but settled down to retire the last five batters he faced.

Boza led the Knights with two RBIs while he Diorio and Derstine also had a pair of base knocks.  Diorio also scored a pair of runs, as did Smith.

The Fighting Knights are back in action tomorrow when they host Winona State at McCusker Sports Complex at 11 am.  Fans can follow the action by logging onto www.LynnFightingKnights.com