ERIE, Pa. - The 10th-ranked Mercyhurst University baseball team swept a pair from California (Pa.) on Saturday afternoon, coming from behind to take game one, 4-3, before getting a strong pitching performance from junior Cam Knott in game two to cap off the sweep, 6-1. The Lakers, who took three of the four games from the Vulcans, improved to 28-2 overall and 18-2 in the PSAC West standings. California dropped to 15-17 overall and 11-9 in conference play.

Game one went back-and-forth with California holding leads of 1-0 and 3-2 and Mercyhurst having 2-1 and 4-3 advantages. The Vulcans struck first on a towering solo homerun to right field, leading off the second inning, from first baseman David Marcus off Mercyhurst junior starter, Matthew Jaskolka.

Mercyhurst responded with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the second, taking advantage of two California miscues, to take a 2-1 lead. Junior Hank Morrison started the rally with a one-out single and then swiped second base on a delayed steal. With two outs, senior Jake Marinelli hit a fly ball to right field that was dropped, allowing Morrison to cross the plate to knot the game at 1-1. Freshman Daniel Elliott then hit a dribbler in front of home plate for an infield single. But, the throw from Vulcan catcher Will Kaufmann went down the right field line allowing Marinelli to score the second run of the inning.

Marcus gave the Vulcans a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth inning with his second home run in as many at bats, this time a two-run shot to right field off of Jaskolka.

But, the Lakers scored a pair in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 4-3 advantage. Senior Angel Martinez singled against Vulcan starting pitcher, GJ Senchak, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sophomore Cameron Balego sacrificed Martinez to third with one out. Junior Brendan Cox singled back up the middle, knotting the game at 3-3. Senior Giancarlo Saia got Cox into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and Morrison came through with a two-out single to center to give the Lakers a 4-3 lead.

Jaskolka allowed a two-out single in the top of the sixth inning which brought Marcus to the plate as the go-ahead run. But, this time the Laker starter got the Vulcan first baseman to ground out to second, ending the inning.

Junior Ben Nolan came on in the seventh and earned his second save of the season, walking one and striking out two.

Jaskolka improved to 4-0 after allowing three runs on five hits in six innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out six. Senchak took the loss, dropping to 1-2. He allowed four runs (two earned) on eight hits, walked one, and struck out three.

Martinez and Morrison led the Lakers with two hits apiece.

In the nightcap, California jumped in front 1-0 on an unearned run in the top of the first inning against Knott. Knott started the game by hitting Mick Fennell, who moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored when Marinelli tried to gun him down at third and the throw got away.

But, the Lakers scored twice in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run homer from junior Austin Alonge - his team-leading fourth round-tripper of the season. Martinez, who led off the inning with a triple down the right field line, scored on the homer.

The Lakers added their other four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI double from Martinez and a two-run single from senior Giancarlo Saia. The fourth run of the inning scored when Saia stole second base and the throw from catcher Parker Lynn sailed into center field which allowed Cox to score from third.

Knott and two relievers did the rest, shutting down the high-powered Vulcan offense to the tune of six hits and a walk in seven innings. Knott went five and a-third and allowed an unearned run on four hits. He walked one and struck out eight in improving to 5-0 on the season. Freshman Matthew Minnick got the final two outs in the sixth and junior Jake Hall came on in the seventh and allowed two hits in a scoreless frame.

Mercyhurst had eleven hits in game two against three California pitchers. Martinez, Alonge, and Marinelli each had two hits in the victory.

The Lakers will return to action on Friday, April 17 when they host the Crimson Hawks of Indiana (Pa.) at the Mercyhurst Baseball Field. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.