Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst baseball finished out the weekend on a high note with a pair wins over California (Pa.) to take the series and send their seniors out with a bang. The team was able to record an exciting 9-8 win in game one before a 16-2 victory in game two on the strength of eight home runs to move to 20-16 on the year.
How it Happened
After a quiet first inning in game one, the two teams got to work in the second with a total of six runs being scored. It was a pair of solo home runs for the Vulcans that allowed them to get on the board as one of the started the frame while the other came with two away. Mercyhurst then got to work with four runs in their half of the frame. Back-to-back-to-back hits with a pair of singles to start things with a double from Jayden Walker capping off the run of base knocks made it 3-2 before Joe Trivisonno came around to score thanks to a pair of errors on the infield, using his speed to cause some chaos.
The Vulcans turned around and managed to put a four-spot on the board in their half of the third to help them reclaim the lead with three hits in the frame to go along with a bases-loaded hit by pitch that led to the runs. Mercyhurst responded in a big way in bottom of the fourth with four runs in the frame. The big hit came from the lead-off batter Matt Christopher who sent one over the centerfield wall for a three run home run to make it 7-6 before a two-out single from Luke Jackson to make it a two-run lead going into the fifth.
After another two runs from Cal in the sixth, the Lakers came up big to earn the win. It was another home run for Christopher with this one being a solo shot to give Mercyhurst a 9-8 lead. From there, reliever Jacob Bazala closed the door with a pair ground outs to start the frame before a strikeout to end the game.
Game two was one of the team's better performances on offense this season, matching their season-high for runs in a game with 16. They ended up putting two on the board in the second inning thanks to Jayden Walker hitting his first home run of his career, 2-1. It was a pair of home runs in the fourth that helped the Lakers extend that lead as both Chris Juchno and Joe Trivisonno sent one over the wall with Trivisonno's blast making it 6-1 in favor of the Lakers. Juchno then sent his second homer over the wall in the fifth as he hit a two run shot, 8-1.
The sixth inning was where the Lakers broke things wide open with eight runs in the frame. It was once again the long ball that did the damage for Mercyhurst with four dingers in the canto. Zachary Kourous had the first of the group while Juchno made it back-to-back-to-back at-bats in which he had hit one while Mitch Grosch followed with Ranciel Ventura having the final one, a three-run shot to make it 16-2 to cap off a major offensive explosion.
Highlights
Chris Juchno led the way on offense for the team with six hits to his line for the most on the team. He finished with four extra base hits on the day with a triple in game one followed by his three home runs in game two, driving in five run on the day. His three-home run performance was the first by the Lakers since 2022 when Philip Ferranti hit a trio of long balls against Seton Hill almost two years to the day on April 29th. The team's eight home runs in the game two on the day is the most so far this season, surpassing their mark of six in the season opener and is the most since the 29th of April in 2022, making for one of the better days at the plate in a long time. On the mound, Corbin Foy worked three innings in game two, giving up one run on one hit while fanning five and was followed up by John Buford Jr. who worked three innings, giving up three hits and one run.
Next Game
Mercyhurst plays their final non conference contests of the season this upcoming Tuesday, April 30th when they see Shepherd. The Lakers host Shepherd in that doubleheader at the Mercyhurst Baseball Field with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m.
