ERIE, Pa. (Interstat) — Gianno Merlonghi went 3 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs to lead Central Connecticut to an 8-7 win over Mercyhurst in 10 innings Saturday at Mercyhurst Athletic Center.

The Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead in the first on Antonio Ducatelli’s RBI double. Mercyhurst answered with three runs in the bottom half, using a two-run single by Michael Samarin and an RBI groundout. The Lakers added an unearned run in the second for a 4-1 lead.

Central Connecticut tied it in the fifth on Brandon O’Neill’s two-run homer. Mercyhurst regained the lead with two runs in the fifth on Samarin’s RBI double and Zac Evenson’s RBI single. The Blue Devils cut the deficit to 6-5 in the sixth on a sacrifice fly, but the Lakers scored an unearned run in the sixth to lead 7-5.

Merlonghi’s three-run homer in the eighth put Central Connecticut ahead 8-7. In the 10th, Merlonghi scored on a wild pitch for the final margin.

Richie Kerstetter struck out five over four innings in relief. Niko Christon tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Samarin had three RBIs for the Lakers.

Central Connecticut improved to 17-23. Mercyhurst dropped to 13-29.