Erie, PA—The Mercyhurst baseball team continued their PSAC run this afternoon as they defeated the Cal (PA) Vulcans by a score of 10-3 in the PSAC Quarterfinals.
How it Happened
Despite the final score, Cal was able to strike first in the top of the first inning after a two out single, and a double that the Lakers lost in the sun.
Mercyhurst struck back in the bottom of the third inning, Luke Baranchak was able to blast a 1-2 fastball over the left field wall to tie the game at one with no outs in the third inning.
Cal took the lead back in the top of the fourth thanks to a solo homer. The Lakers answered right back in the bottom half of the fourth. Jack Elliott started the inning with an eight-pitch walk. Troy Banks then chopped one to third which allowed Elliott to move into scoring position as Banks was thrown out at first. Matthew Gibson then singled to center field that pushed Elliott across to tie the game at two. With Gibson on first, Logan Martella-Tasick got down a beautiful SAC bunt to move Gibson to second with two outs in the inning. Baranchak then came to the plate with the chance to give the Lakers the lead again and that's exactly what he did, he singled to left center which allowed Gibson to score the Lakers third run. Just two pitches later Casimer Sobaszek doubled to right field which allowed Baranchak to come around to score to make it 4-2.
Mercyhurst kept pouring it on in the fifth to put the game out of reach. Elliott started the two-out rally with a single to right, the very next pitch Banks singled to left center to put runners on first and second. Gibson then blasted a towering homer just inside the left field foul poll to make to it 7-4 good guys.
The bottom of the seventh would take wind out of the sails of the Vulcans as Mercyhurst pushed the score to 10-2. With two outs in the frame Banks homered for the seventh time of year to make it 8-2. After a Gibson walk, Martella-Tasick hit his first homer in a Mercyhurst uniform to make it 10-2.
In the ninth, Cal hit a solo shot with two outs, but their comeback came up short.
Nathan Holt got the ball and went 4.1 innings and allowed just five scattered hits while striking out four. Michael Krauza took over on the bump in the fifth and kept his incredible season going. In 4.2 innings, Krauza allowed just one hit and one run while striking out nine as he picked up tenth win of the season, he finished the regular season with the lead in wins in the PSAC.
Survive and Advance
With the win the Lakers will move to the PSAC Semifinal, with the results from around the PSAC the Lakers will face No. 7 Seton Hill in a best of three series in Greenburg, PA. On the east side of the conference, Millersville defeated Shepherd and Bloomsburg defeated West Chester. The two winners of the semifinals will travel to the west as the remaining west team will host.
Using the Long Ball
For the third time this season the Lakers hit four homers in a game. The first time was against Salem on March 7th, in that game Elliott, Tyler Zaluski, John Susnik, and Luke Jackson each homered. The last time it happened was against Cal on April 9th, Elliott homered twice while Philip Ferranti and Gibson each homered once in the 7-4 win.
You get a hit, you get a hit (Oprah Voice)
Eight of the nine Laker starters recorded a hit in today's game. Banks was responsible for three of the 13 Laker hits. Gibson, Martella-Tasick, and Baranchak each recorded two hits in the win. Along with that, all the runs the Lakers scored were scored by guys below fifth in the lineup, Banks once again led the way with three runs scored.
Who's Next
Mercyhurst will travel to Greensburg for the second time this season to take on Seton Hill. The first two games of the series will be played on May 16th with first pitch slated for noon, the second game will start shortly after game one is completed. The third game of the series will take place on May 17th if necessary. In the second game of the series Mercyhurst will be considered the home team.
Looking back to the season series with the Griffins, Seton Hill held the series lead at 2-1. The third game of the series was not completed after a Mercyhurst protest was upheld; the game was not resumed. Seton Hill defeated Gannon on Wednesday by a score of 6-0 to advance.
