Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two

WASHINGTON, Pa. - One day after blasting four home runs in a doubleheader sweep at home against California, the Mercyhurst baseball team could not generate much offense on Saturday, losing a twinbill at California by the scores of 3-2 in eight innings and 2-0. With the losses, Mercyhurst dropped to 17-7 overall and 2-2 in conference play. The Vulcans, meanwhile, improved to 14-12 overall and 5-3 in PSAC action.

The lack of offense ruined a pair of great starts by senior Brad Duffy in game one and senior Zach Leitten in game two. The duo allowed just nine hits in 13 innings, but the Lakers would score just two runs off of California pitching to negate two more quality starts over the weekend.

Game one would take an extra inning to determine the winner, with the Vulcans getting a two-out, walk-off RBI single by Chuck Gasti to propel the home team to the victory. Gasti singled off of Mercyhurst closer Samuel O'Neill, who dropped to 0-3 on the campaign.

The Vulcans jumped out in front with a run in the bottom of the first inning off of Duffy. After a pair of strikeouts by the senior righthander, Duffy allowed a two-out triple to Kyle Petty, who then scored on a wild pitch, giving the home team a 1-0 lead.

The Lakers would tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning. Anthony Tomasone led off the frame with a single and then was sacrificed to second by Kolin McMillen. Tomasone would advance to third on a wild pitch and would then score on a two-out RBI single by Zak Blair. But, the Vulcans would get the run back in the bottom of the fifth inning, again on a wild pitch by Duffy which allowed Ben Carson to cross home plate.

Mercyhurst would tie the game in the top of the seventh inning. Tomasone reached base on a two-out walk and promptly stole second base. Then, McMillen would provide the heroics with a single up the middle, tying the game at 2-2.

Duffy went six innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out 10 batters, marking the second consecutive start he has reached double-digit strikeouts. O'Neill pitched an inning and two-thirds and allowed three hits and a walk. California's Justin Taylor went the first seven, allowing seven hits and two runs. He walked two and struck out seven. Jim Kerker pitched the eighth inning and got the victory, pitching around a walk to Ryan Siegel.

Senior Ethan Santora went 2-for-4.

In game two, Leitten went the distance, allowing two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out five, but suffered his first loss of the season, falling to 2-1. The Lakers could not get anything going against California's GJ Senchak, who allowed five hits for the complete game shutout. He walked two and struck out two, improving to 2-2 on the season.

Leitten allowed California to score both runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Petty and Troy Handza had back-to-back hits to lead off the inning and then were driven home by game one's hero, Gasti, on a one-out, two-run triple.

Mercyhurst had opportunities in both the sixth and seventh innings, but could not get a clutch hit. Senior Shane Latshaw hit a two-out triple in the sixth inning, but Blair would fly out to end the inning. Then, in the seventh, Santora led off with a single but was erased on a double play off the bat of Matt Adamczyk. Mercyhurst would try again with two outs, getting a walk to Siegel and a hit by Colin Loughner, but Andrew Fitzpatrick grounded out with runners at first and third to end the game.

Santora was 2-for-3 in game two, picking up two of Mercyhurst's five hits.

Mercyhurst will return home on Tuesday, March 27 for a single, nine-inning, non-conference game against Glenville State. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.