Erie, Pa.—The Mercyhurst baseball team looks to bounce back with four games this weekend and a doubleheader on Tuesday.
1. The Matchups
The Lakers take on Cal (PA) this weekend in a PSAC West series, the Lakers go on the road Friday before hosting the Vulcans on Saturday. Mercyhurst first played Cal in their third ever season in 1975 and got swept in their first doubleheader. Since 2010, the two teams have played 35 times with Mercyhurst winning 21 times. Last season the teams split the regular season, but the Lakers had the last laugh defeating Cal in the PSAC playoffs.
Ashland is a bit of a newer opponent first taking on the Lakers to open the 1984 season. The Lakers have not played Ashland since 2008 when Mercyhurst was still in the GLIAC. The Lakers and Eagles split the season series in their final season in the GLIAC.
2. Quick Season Recap
Mercyhurst has played 26 games this season and have a record of 18-8 which includes a 7-5 PSAC West record. In the first weekend of the season the Lakers took two of three games with a combined score of 30-15 which included a 19-6 win over Alderson Broaddus. The Lakers earned their first PSAC West series win against Clarion on Mar. 25. This past weekend the Lakers won their second series by outscoring UPJ 27-14 which included a 1-0 shutout win to close out the series on Apr. 9.
3. By The Numbers
So far this season the Lakers are hitting .304 with four players hitting over .300. Josh Surowiec is leading the Lakers and is one of the top hitters in the country as he is hitting .418 to lead the Lakers which is also second in the PSAC. The Lakers have a .551 slugging percentage while also having a .434 on-base percentage.
On the mound the Lakers have a 3.26 ERA while opponents are hitting just .194 against them, which is top in the conference. The team ERA is tops in the conference while it is also eighth in the country. Daniel Thomas has thrown back-to-back complete games and has allowed just three hits and two runs in the two games. The Lakers have had a lot of young arms on the mound this season including Jacob Bazala and Aiden Kelly as freshman. Sophomores John Bufford Jr., Corbin Foy, Jarrett Heilman, Robert Hartman along with Thomas have pitched a combined 103 innings while striking out 141 batters.
4. Chasing History
Head Coach Joe Spano currently has 699 career wins in his 23 year career with the Lakers. With his next win he will become the 25th active head coach with 700 career wins. He will also be the 19th head coach to do it with just one school. He is going to be the second head coach in the PSAC with 700 or more wins.
5. Scouting Cal and Ashland
Cal is 22-9 this season while also being 7-5 in PSAC West this season. Pitcher Dylan Brosky was named NCBWA pitcher of the week after throwing a no hitter on Sunday against IUP. As a team their ERA is 3.77 while their opponents are hitting .258 against them, they have struckout 213 while giving up 240 hits as a team. The Vulcans are hitting .312 as a team and have hit 30 homers this season, they have also stolen 58 bases so far this season.
Ashland has played 29 games to this point of the season and has a record of 19-10 while being 11-5 in the GMAC. Earlier this week they defeated Gannon 12-5 at home while they have also Seton Hill earlier in the season. The Eagles are hitting .320 this season while they have hit 23 homers and swiped 56 bags. They start a four game series with Walsh this weekend before taking on the Lakers on Tuesday for a twinbill in Erie.
