Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

California, Pa. - Mercyhurst baseball went on the road to start the final weekend in April with the California Vulcans, coming way with one win and won loss. Mercyhurst fell in game one, 5-1, and despite s late push from their counterpart in game was able take the 6-5 win.

How it Happened

The first couple of innings of game one were quiet ones as neither team was able to crack the scoreboard through the first two frames with only two hits combined. Cal broke out, though, in the third with a trio of runs being scored. A pair of walks to lead off the frame followed by a sacrifice bunt had the Vulcans in business with runners on second and third, helping them manufacture a run on a one-out sacrifice fly before a two-out double and subsequent single gave Cal the lead going into the middle innings.

Mercyhurst's offense struggled to get things going in the early portion of the game with just three hits to their line through the first five innings. A double off the bat of Matt Christopher looked like it would help the Lakers break through in the fifth, but the team was turned away until the sixth. It was the team's cleanup hitter, Chris Juchno who helped Mercyhurst got on the board as he hit a home run over the right field wall to make it 3-1.

The Vulcans ended up having an answer for Mercyhurst's offense with two runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth, making it a 5-1 game, and helping add one some insurance in the four-run win.

Mercyhurst turned things around in the second game of the doubleheader, grabbing a one-run win. The team was able to put two runs on the board in the opening frame, helping stake them to a lead they would never relinquish. The two runs came across thanks to Juchno who kept things rolling as the day went along with an RBI single before a bases-loaded hit by pitch helped Mercyhurst to a crooked number.

The team then tacked on four more runs in the second, making it 6-0. A single off the bat of Zachary Kourous with two runners on allowed the Lakers to build their lead out to four before a groundball RBI from Luke Jackson Just like in game one, Juchno went deep for the second time in the contest to cap off the big frame for the Lakers as he went opposite field this time to put an exclamation point on the frame, 6-0.

Cal's offense was frustrated to say the least by Mercyhurst's starting pitcher, Ryan Rafalski, as he allowed just one run on the day through the first five frame. After tossing a no-hitter his last time out, the Laker senior had another strong effort as he managed to keep the oppositions bats at bay. The Vulcans did manage put four runs on him in the sixth before Mercyhurst went to the bullpen. Jacob Bazala was the one to take the ball with the righty able to help close the door and keep the Lakers in front the rest of the way, 6-5.

Highlights

Chris Juchno led the way on offense for the team, going 3-8 on the day with two home runs to his line with one in each game. Zachary Kourous and Joe Trivisonno were the only other two players on the team to come up with multiple hits with both collecting two base knocks in game two. Trivisonno added on with a great day on the base paths as he stole two bases. On the mound, Ben Berdine put together a solid effort in his second longest relief outing of the season in game one, going 3.1 innings while allowing two runs to go along with five strikeouts.

Next Game

Mercyhurst returns home tomorrow for the final two games of their series with Cal. The two teams are set to begin at 1:00 p.m. with the Lakers honoring their senior class in between the two games.