Box Score

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University baseball team more than likely saw its season come to an end on Thursday afternoon as the Vulcans of California (Pa.) handed the Lakers their second loss of the PSAC Tournament, 8-6, eliminating Mercyhurst from the conference playoffs. Mercyhurst dropped to 30-20 while California improved to 34-17.

It was the Vulcans' fourth win in five meetings against the Lakers this season.

The NCAA Division II selection show will be held on Sunday, but it appears that the Lakers will not be making a return trip to the Atlantic Regional Tournament this season. In the last poll, released on Wednesday, Mercyhurst was eighth, with the top six teams getting a bid to play on.

With Mercyhurst posting a 30-20 record in 2013, it marks the third consecutive year, and four of the last five seasons, in which the Lakers have won at least 30 games. Over the last five years, Mercyhurst has won 175 games, an average of 35 wins per season.

Sophomore Dan Altavilla got the start on Thursday and lasted just two and two-thirds innings as the Vulcans jumped out to a 5-1 lead. The righthander allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits. He walked four and struck out two, dropping to 5-5 on the season.

Junior Adam Curyto got out of a third-inning jam, but then was touched up for two runs in the fourth inning. Redshirt senior Matthew Jimenez finished out the game and was sensational over five innings, keeping Mercyhurst within range of a comeback bid. The righthander allowed an unearned run on one hit in his five innings of relief. He did not walk a batter and struck out one.

The Vulcans got to Altavilla early and often, scoring two runs in the first and three more in the second. Kyle Petty drove home the first run of the game with an RBI double off the left field wall. Altavilla and the Lakers appeared to be getting out of the first with just one run scored, but a fielding error by freshman Brendan Cox allowed Chuck Gasti to reach, scoring the second run of the inning.

Mercyhurst would counter with a run in the bottom of the first inning when Cox hit into a fielder's choice with the bases loaded. The grounder scored sophomore Kolin McMillen, who led off the inning with his first of three hits on the day.

However, the Vulcans responded with three runs in the second, thanks in part to another Laker error. Derrik Zeroski, who led off the inning on a throwing error by senior Zak Blair, scored on an RBI single by Petty, putting California in front 3-1. AJ Robinson followed with a two-run single up the middle for a 5-1 advantage.

The Lakers would not go quietly, getting two of the runs back in the bottom of the second against California starter Justin Taylor. McMillen hit a grounder to third on what could have been an inning-ending double play. But, the throw by the Vulcan third baseman, Zeroski, sailed into right field, allowing both freshmen Hank Morrison and Joel Yeagley to score.

After a scoreless third inning, California plated two runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-3 advantage. Gasti drove home both runs with a two-out, two-run single against Curyto.

But, Mercyhurst battled back again, as they did all afternoon. McMillen doubled home Morrison in the fourth, followed by an RBI groundout by junior Joe Pantano, cutting the California lead to 7-5. Sophomore Jake Marinelli got to within a run in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single, driving home Cox.

That, however, would be as close as the Lakers would get, as California reliever, Kyle Thomas, slammed the door on Mercyhurst over the last four and two-thirds innings.

California got its other run in the top of the seventh against Jimenez when Giovanni Morales reached on an infield single to drive home Gasti.

Mercyhurst would threaten down the stretch against Thomas, but could not plate the tying runs. The Lakers left two runners on base in the sixth, stranded a runner at third in the eighth, and left two more on in the ninth.

Thomas allowed three hits and three walks over his 4.2 innings of relief. He struck out five to improve to 6-0 on the season. Taylor started and allowed six runs (three earned) on seven hits in four and one-third innings.

McMillen went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs to lead the Laker offense. Cox and Marinelli had two hits apiece. Petty led California, going 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two runs batted in.

Mercyhurst says goodbye to four seniors from on this year's roster – infielder Zak Blair and pitchers Donald Bowes, Ben Rawding, and Matthew Jimenez.