Erie, PA—The Mercyhurst Baseball team was back on the turf at Mercyhurst to take on the California Vulcans. The Lakers fell in the first game by a score of 4-3, Mercyhurst bounced back in the second game and won by a score of 7-4.
Game One (L, 4-3)
The Lakers sent Michael McDonough to the mound in game one, he was able to go 5.0 innings. He allowed just two hits and one earned run in the outing while striking out eight.
Mercyhurst was able to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Tyler Zaluski was able to take advantage of having runners on first and second. Zaluski was able to single to left field which allowed Jack Elliott to score.
The Lakers held the lead until the fourth inning when Cal was able to tie the game up on a solo homer.
In the fifth inning the Lakers were able to take the lead back. Zaluski was able to double after Josh Surowiec walked with one out. After a groundout, Matthew Gibson came to the plate with runners on second and third. Gibson was able to single through the left side to drive in both runners to give the Lakers a 3-1 lead.
Michael Krauza came in for the sixth inning and was able to shut the Vulcans down, Jack Goonan came into the game to shut the door in the seventh.
Cal was able to get two runners on with one out, the Vulcans hit a three-run home run to give themselves the 4-3 lead. Mercyhurst couldn't respond in the bottom half and fell 4-3.
Game Two (W, 7-4)
After a heartbreaking loss in game one the Lakers looked for revenge. Mercyhurst once again jumped out to a lead in the first inning. With runners on second and third, Suroweic hit a deep fly ball to center field, the center fielder dropped the ball which allowed one run to score.
Mercyhurst wasn't done in the early innings, Gibson came to the plate in the second inning and was able to hit his second homer of the season.
Cal was able to put some extra base hits together in the third inning to take the 3-2 lead. Elliott and Philip Ferranti responded in the bottom half as they hit back-to-back jacks to give them Lakers the 4-3.
Elliott wasn't done putting balls over the fence on this day. He came to the dish again in the fourth inning with runners on first and second, he was able to hit his team leading eighth homer of the season to give the Lakers a 7-3 lead.
Frank Fraschetti got the ball in the second game of the day. He was able go 2.2 innings, he allowed just four hits and three runs in the outing.
Krauza made his 12th appearance of the season and was able to earn his fourth win of the season. He went 4.1 innings allowing one run on three hits while striking out five in the win.
Up Next
The Lakers will be back on the field tomorrow as they will take on Cal in Washington, PA to close out the season series. Next weekend the Lakers will face IUP on Friday and Saturday, Mercyhurst will travel on Friday and host on Saturday.
