ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst baseball team begins its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Division schedule this weekend with a pair of doubleheaders against California (Pa.) March 23-24.
 
The Lakers (8-3) host their first home games on Friday at 1 and 3 p.m. before travelling to Cal (9-6) Saturday for games set for the same time.
 
THE MATCHUP
- Mercyhurst had its games against Cal last season cancelled, so this upcoming series is the first time the Lakers and the Vulcans have played since April 22-23, 2016. Mercyhurst went 3-1 in those four games and outscored the Vulcans 45-12.
- Cal's top hitters: Sr. Chris Wastchak (.390, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 8 2B), Jr. Eric Fairman (.422, 19 hits, 16 runs)
- Cal's top pitchers: So. Nick Riggle (4 GS, 18.1 IP, 2.95 ERA, 21 K), So. Bradyn Kail (6 app, 16.1 IP, 4.41 ERA, 11 K)
 
LAKER OUTLOOK
- Lakers' leaders with runners in scoring position: Matthew Schneider 6-for-9 (.667), Drew Delsignore 8-for-15 (.533), Daniel Elliott 7-for-17 (.412).
- Mercyhurst is 8-0 when collecting more hits than their opponent and is also 8-0 when scoring first this season.
- Infielders Alex O'Donnell and Dominic Cecere are first and second on the Lakers in assists (29 and 15) while maintaining perfect fielding percentages through 11 games.
- Freshmen pitchers Ryan Smerkar, Hunter Treece, Adam Jeannette, Nicholas McRandal, Tyler Passmore, Michael Crawford, and Chase Barricklow have combined to throw 30.1 innings with a 1.79 ERA (6 earned runs) and 35 strikeouts.
 
MERCYHURST IN THE POLLS
Mercyhurst continues its run of being ranked in all listed polls since the preseason editions (six-straight weeks).
 

	Collegiate Baseball	NCBWA	Perfect Game	NCBWA (Atl. Region)	Lakers' Record*
Preseason	#10	#11	#6	#2	0-0
Feb. 19-25		#14		#2	0-0
Feb. 26-March 4		#8	#3	#1	2-0
March 5-11	#5	#4	#3	#1	5-0
March 12-18	#19	#7	#11	#2	6-3
March 19-25	#18	#15	#11	#2	8-3

*Record entering week