Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ERIE, Pa. - On a cold, windy Sunday afternoon at the Mercyhurst University baseball field, the Lakers' bats were cold against two hot California pitchers.

The Mercyhurst offense could muster just a run on five hits in each of the two games against Vulcan starters Kyle Thomas and Mick Fennell as the Lakers were swept at home by California by the scores of 5-1 and 3-1. With the losses, Mercyhurst dropped to 14-10 on the season and 1-3 in the PSAC. Meanwhile, the Vulcans improved to 16-4 overall and 3-1 in the conference.

In game one, California jumped out to a 4-0 lead off of Mercyhurst starter Jon Klein in its half of the first inning, with all of the runs coming with two outs. After a leadoff single, Klein retired the next two batters on groundouts. However, a walk to AJ Robinson kept the inning alive, putting runners at first and second with two outs. David Marcus singled to left to plate the Vulcans' first run and then Matt Peters hit a towering three-run homer over the left field fence to give Cal a 4-0 lead.

Mercyhurst would score its only run of game one in the bottom of the second inning when Thomas uncorked a wild pitch that allowed freshman Joel Yeagley to trot home from third base.

Giovanni Morales would drive home a run with an RBI double in the top of the sixth inning for the final margin.

Klein settled down after the first inning, when he allowed four runs on three hits. He finished his outing by allowing five runs on eight hits in six innings. The redshirt sophomore walked two and struck out three.

Junior Adam Curyto pitched a perfect seventh inning, including a pair of strikeouts.

The Lakers could muster just five hits in game one, two by sophomore catcher Jake Marinelli. Thomas was dealing all afternoon, and improved to 3-0 on the season. He went the distance, allowing a run on five hits. He walked one and struck out four.

In game two, it was much of the same for the Lakers, except the fact that Mercyhurst scored first to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.

Junior Joe Pantano led off the inning with a walk and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Then, after Fennell recorded a pair of outs, Marinelli hit a grounder into the hole between short and third that he was able to beat out at first. The throw got away from Robinson, the Vulcan first baseman, allowing Pantano to score.

It remained 1-0 until the top of the sixth inning when California finally broke through on Mercyhurst starter Matthew Jimenez. Robinson drove in the tying run with a single, ending Jimenez's afternoon. Junior Tanner Delahoy relieved Jimenez with two men on and one out. But, the junior unleashed two consecutive wild pitches during Marcus' at bat, allowing the go-ahead run to score, and putting another runner at third. Marcus then came through with a sacrifice fly for the final run of the afternoon.

Jimenez was charged with the loss and all of the runs scored were also charged to him. He allowed three runs on five hits in five and one-third innings. He walked one and struck out four. Delahoy pitched the final 1.2 innings, striking out two, but throwing three wild pitches.

Pantano had two of Mercyhurst's five hits in the game two setback. Fennell went the distance allowing an unearned run on five hits. He walked one and struck out one to improve to 3-0 on the year.

Mercyhurst will jump right back into action on Monday afternoon when the Lakers host the Falcons of Notre Dame College in a single, nine-inning game. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., weather permitting.