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JOHNSTWON, Pa. (May 9) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team scored seven runs in the first four innings on Thursday morning en route to posting an 8-6 victory in an elimination game against Mercyhurst in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament at Point Stadium.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 34-17 overall and snap a five-game losing streak in the league tournament. Cal U advances to play another elimination game tomorrow, Friday, May 10, against Kutztown at 8:30 a.m. Meanwhile, the Lakers finish the year with a 30-20 overall record after entering the tournament as the third seed from the PSC West.

Senior Kyle Thomas (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) earned the win after tossing 4.2 innings (78 pitches) of three-hit, scoreless relief. He registered five strikeouts and forced Mercyhurst to leave eight runners on base, including five in scoring position. Sophomore Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) took a no-decision after allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits in 4.1 innings (96 pitches).

In the top of the first, Cal U took an early 2-0 lead on three hits and a two-out error. Junior third baseman Derrik Zeroski (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny) opened the game with a single and advanced to second before scoring on a double off the left-field wall by senior first baseman Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg). The Vulcans loaded the bases with two outs on a walk and infield single before Petty scored on a fielding error. With rain coming down at a steady pace, Mercyhurst answered with one run in the bottom of the inning and threatened to tie the game before Zeroski threw a runner out at home.

The Vulcans added to their lead with three runs on a pair of singles in the second, 5-2. Zeroski started the rally by reaching on a throwing error and later scored on a single by Petty. Senior designated hitter AJ Robinson (Milesburg, Pa./Bald Eagle) then delivered a two-run single through the middle. The Lakers countered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, 5-4, and Zeroski again threw out a runner at home on a fielder's choice.

After a scoreless third, Petty reached on a hit by pitch to start the fourth and advanced to third following a stolen base and wild pitch. Sophomore shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) drew a walk and stole second before junior right fielder Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) later delivered a two-out, two-run single through the left side, 7-3. The Lakers benefited from a throwing error to start the bottom of the fourth that eventually led to a pair of unearned runs, 7-5.

In the fifth, Mercyhurst cut the lead to 7-6 before Thomas entered with runners on first and second with one out. The Lakers executed a sacrifice bunt and loaded the bases on a walk before Thomas ended the threat with a called third strike. The Lakers threatened to tie the game in the sixth with runners on the corners and two outs before Thomas again ended the inning with a strikeout.

The Vulcans added an insurance run in the eighth on just an infield single, 8-6. Gasti reached base on a one-out throwing error and moved to second on a wild pitch before advancing to third on a deep fly-out to right field. Junior second baseman Giovanni Morales (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) then reached on an infield single which allowed Gasti to score. Mercyhurst looked to trim the deficit in the bottom of the inning after the leadoff batter reached on a single and later advanced to third before Thomas ended the inning with a strikeout. In the ninth, the Lakers had the game-tying run on base before Thomas induced a comebacker to end the game.

Petty finished 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and scored three times, while also moving into a tie for third place in single-season school history with 37 stolen bases. Zeroski scored twice from the leadoff spot and Gasti reached base safely in all four plate appearances – single, walk and two errors.

Mercyhurst starter Dan Altavilla (5-5) suffered the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks in just 2.2 innings (72 pitches). The Lakers finished the game with 12 runners left on base and were limited to just 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position.

Cal U returns to action in the PSAC Tournament tomorrow with another elimination game against Kutztown. The Vulcans have won the last two post-season meetings against the Golden Bears (2010), but the two teams haven't played since March 2011 in Georgia

PSAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, May 8
Game 1 - (E2) Kutztown d. (W3) Mercyhurst, 6-1
Game 2 - (E4) West Chester d. (W1) California (Pa.), 5-0
Game 3 - (E3) East Stroudsburg d. (W2) Gannon, 8-5

Thursday, May 9
Game 4 - (E1) Millersville d. (W4) Slippery Rock, 5-0 (originally scheduled for 5/8)
Game 5 - (W1) California (Pa.) d. (W3) Mercyhurst, 8-6 (Mercyhurst eliminated)
Game 6 - (W2) Gannon d. (W4) Slippery Rock, 9-3 (Slippery Rock eliminated)
Game 7 - (E4) West Chester d. (E2) Kutztown, 3-0
Game 8 - (E3) East Stroudsburg d. (E1) Millersville, 6-2

Friday, May 10 (UPDATED)
Game 9 - (W1) California (Pa.) vs. (E2) Kutztown, 8:30 a.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 10 - (W2) Gannon vs. (E1) Millersville, 11:30 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 11 - Game 9 Winner vs. (E3) East Stroudsburg, 2:30 p.m.
Game 12 - (E4) West Chester vs. Game 10 Winner, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 11**
** Depends on number of team's remaining **
IF THREE GAMES ARE NEEDED
Game 13 - Rematch of Game 11
Game 14 - Rematch of Game 12
Game 15 - Championship Game