Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst Baseball hosted the Cal (Pa.) Vulcans to open the weekend with Mercyhurst able to grab one win in the series opener. The Lakers used a walk-off home run off the bat of John Susnik to secure the 3-1 win in game one while game two still has yet to be completed after a 12-inning battle and a weather delay.

How It Happened

Game One

The Vulcans came out swinging and were able to put three runners on over the course of the first two innings of play. It looked as if Cal was going to plate the first run of the game in the top of the second, but a great throw from Luke Jackson cut down the runner at the plate to end the frame.

Mercyhurst jumped out in front in the bottom of the second with a home run off the bat of Zachary Kourous, his second of the season. After the first two batters of the canto recorded outs, the freshman sent one over the right field wall to make it a 1-0 game.

Kourous then made a heads-up play to help keep Cal off the scoreboard in the fourth as Mercyhurst's defense continued to be as strong as possible. Kourous fielded a bunt attempt and faked the throw to first, drawing the Vulcan runner at third far enough off the bag for Matt Christopher to sneak in behind for the out.

Cal continued to see zeros on the board until the top of the sixth as an RBI sacrifice fly brought in their first run of the game to tie it at 1-1. Laker backstop John Susnik did not allow things to stay that way for too long as he sealed the win in game number one with a home run over the left field wall, 3-1.

Game Two

The Vulcans managed to strike first, scratching across a run in the top of the third to take a 1-0 lead. Mercyhurst was able to score one run in both the fifth and sixth frames to take a lead into the later innings. 

Matt Christopher doubled into the right-center field gap to bring home Joe Trivisonno with one away in their half of the fifth to tie the game at 1-1. Chris Juchno then sent one over the wall in right field to give Mercyhurst the lead in the sixth at 2-1.

The Vulcans tied things up in the top of the seventh as they were unwilling to give in and drop both games. A leadoff hit followed by a botched grounder on the infield gave Cal runners at the corners and no one out. A wild pitch then brought the tying run in before Santino Campoli came in relief, stopping the bleeding and keeping things tied, 2-2. 

Both teams fought with everything they had to put another run on the board, but were unable to do so as the game was called in the bottom of the 12th due to inclement weather and darkness. The two teams resume the game on Sunday, April 23rd, before playing the second doubleheader of the series.

Highlights

Jarrett Heilman was once again solid on the mound, giving up one run in five innings of work while fanning four. The junior hurler gave up his first run in the month of April, ending a 26-inning scoreless streak and making his ERA in the month of April a minuscule 0.35. John Susnik led the team in hits, going 4-6 over the two games while having the game-winning home run in game one, his second homer of the year.

Playoff Picture

Mercyhurst is now 21-9 on the season and 15-2 in conference play, good enough for second place in the PSAC West. They currently trail only Seton Hill who remains perfect in conference play at 18-0 while Gannon rounds out the top three in the West at 11-9.

Next Game

The Lakers go to California, Pa. to play the Vulcans on Sunday, April 23rd. The two teams will resume the second game of the series before finishing with a doubleheader, scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.