ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst University baseball team opens its 2014 regular season this weekend with four games in three days in the state of Virginia. The Lakers will open up against Wilmington University on Friday afternoon, will then play against Post University and West Chester University on Saturday, and will finish up its trip with a nine-inning affair against Mansfield on Sunday.

Mercyhurst was scheduled to open last weekend in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, but the weekend was wiped out by inclement winter weather.

The Lakers are coming off of a 30-20 overall record a year ago and a 15-9 record in the PSAC Western Division to claim at least a share of the regular season title for the fourth time in five seasons. Mercyhurst advanced to the PSAC Tournament for the fifth consecutive year but was ousted after losing its opening two contests.

This season brings a slightly different look to the PSAC schedule with the addition of two Tuesday conference doubleheaders putting an emphasis on deep pitching staffs. The Lakers lost two big game starters from last year's staff - Matthew Jimenez and Ben Rawding. However, the duo have remained at Mercyhurst and are part of this season's coaching staff in the hopes of helping the staff improve throughout the course of the year.

Juniors Dan Altavilla and Jon Klein are two weekend starters from last season that return in 2014. Altavilla was recently named the eighth-best prospect in all of Division II baseball according to PerfectGame.org. He was 5-5 with a 5.17 earned run average in 2013 - a year he made the transition from reliever to starter. The junior struck out 66 batters in 62.2 innings a year ago. His earned run average was inflated by starts at California and Lock Haven where he allowed 20 earned runs in 7.1 innings. In his other ten starts, the righthander allowed three earned runs or fewer and posted a 2.60 earned run average in those starts.

Klein, meanwhile, led last year's rotation with a 2.20 earned run average and finished the season on a five-game winning streak in which he allowed one earned run in 31.1 innings.

A number of other arms on the roster will be competing for the other two weekend spots and for those Tuesday doubleheaders. Senior Tanner Delahoy was an All-Region and All-Conference closer in 2013 but could follow Altavilla's path and make the switch to the roation in 2014. He went 0-1 with a 2.20 earned run average and five saves out of the bullpen. He allowed just five hits in 16.1 innings a year ago.

More bullpen arms from a year ago could make the transition to starter this season. Seniors Jon Corbi and Adam Curyto were big contributors out of the pen last year and could find a spot in the rotation this season. Sophomore Cam Knott was also excellent out of the pen a year ago and could earn a starting gig. Also in the mix are senior Dan Parker, junior transfer Joe Gnacinski, and sophomore Colin McKee.

The pen could see an overhaul as well as sophomores Ben Nolan and Jake Hall could be in line to replace Delahoy as the closer. Also expected to see innings in relief are senior Nick Cianci and juniors Mike Wagner and Kyle Hagerich.

Behind the plate sees the return of junior Jake Marinelli, who had a solid season in 2013. He should again see major innings as the Laker catcher. He will be pushed by sophomore transfer Dan Popio, who had a strong fall and brings a middle-of-the-order bat to the Laker lineup. Sophomores Dominic Paolucci and Steve McCaw should also see action at catcher in 2014.

Despite losing All-Conference selection Zak Blair to graduation and to the Major League Baseball draft, the strength of the Lakers could be on the infield in 2014 as the team returns three starters from a year ago. Leading the way is sophomore Brendan Cox was was a Second Team All-Conference selection as a rookie. He is expected to see most of his time at second base, but could also see innnings at third, or even first base. Senior Joe Pantano was a gold glove award winner last season at the hot corner and is penciled in at third base again this year. He could also be in the mix for innings at shortstop.

Sophomore Hank Morrison was a regular at first base last season and will again compete for innings there or as the designated hitter. Sophomore Dan Karstedt also brings a strong bat and is expected to compete for the job, with Morrison, at one of those two positions.

The Lakers added two transfers that are expected to bring immediate help to the infield and to the Laker lineup. Juniors Angel Martinez and Giancarlo Saia should be major contributors with Martinez getting time at the middle infield positions and Saia getting innings at second base or at third base.

The outfield should be led by All-Conference selection, junior Ryan Siegel, who is looking to bounce back after a bit of a sophomore slump. He was the PSAC's Rookie of the Year and was the Region's Rookie of the Year two years ago. He had a strong summer where he led the Prospect League in batting and is looking to build off of that success in his junior season.

Senior Anthony Tomasone, along with sophomores Stephen Scaccia and Joel Yeagley, had strong seasons last year and should compete for major innings at the corner outfield spots. Transfers Joe Fontana and Lucas Horew will also be in the mix.

The Laker schedule could be one of the toughest schedules head coach Joe Spano has put together in his 14 seasons as the manager. Six opponents were ranked in the preseason top 30 - Winston-Salem, Wilmington, Grand Valley State, Seton Hill, Slippery Rock, and California. Mercyhurst was picked to finish second in the highly-competitive PSAC West according to the preseason poll. It should be a test each weekend if the Lakers want to continue its postseason run and make the PSAC tournament - this season held in Butler, Pa., in May.