• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

ERIE, Pa. (April 11) – Sophomore Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) tossed a two-hit, complete-game shutout in Game 2, as the Vulcans posted a doubleheader split at Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Friday afternoon, falling 6-4 before winning 4-0.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 19-14 overall with a 7-9 mark in league action. The Vulcans have won at least one road game against the Lakers in three of the last four years. Meanwhile, Mercyhurst stands at 19-19 this season behind an 11-5 record in divisional play.

In Game 2, Dennis (4-2) scattered two hits and two walks over 7.0 innings (108 pitches) for the third complete-game shutout of his career. He forced the Lakers to leave five runners on base, including three in scoring position, and retired eight-straight batters after allowing a two-out double in the bottom of the first. Lakers starter Jon Klein (3-4) suffered the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) on 10 hits and no walks in 7.0 innings (117 pitches) while posting seven strikeouts.

Both teams stranded runners on third in the first before the Vulcans scored three runs with two outs in the top of the fifth. Senior right fielder Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on fielding error when senior second baseman Giovanni Morales (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) reached on a two-out single. Sophomore third baseman Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) then delivered an RBI double and senior left fielder John Orr (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) followed with an RBI single.

In the sixth, Mercyhurst managed runners on first and second with one out before Dennis retired the next two batters to preserve the shutout. The Vulcans added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a two-out RBI single by senior first baseman Derrik Zeroski (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny).

Fennell finished 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored, while Zeroski collected a pair of hits and stolen bases.

In Game 1, the Lakers scored six runs in the bottom of the first off before the Vulcans trimmed the deficit to 6-3 with no outs and the bases loaded in the top of the seventh. Following a Mercyhurst pitching change, Zeroski drew a bases-loaded walk before reliever Colin McKee recorded a strikeout and game-ending double play to record the save.

Junior Luke Burton (Ambridge, Pa./Ambridge) tossed the first complete game of his career in the losing effort, allowing six runs (all earned) on 10 hits and four walks in 6.0 innings (122 pitches). After being roughed up for six runs in the first, he worked five scoreless innings and forced the Lakers to leave six runners in scoring position. Mercyhurst junior Dan Altavilla (5-0) earned the win after yielding four runs (three earned) on eight hits in 6.0 innings (123 pitches) while tying a season high with 12 strikeouts.

In the first, Mercyhurst claimed a 6-0 lead behind a three-run homer by first baseman Hank Morrison. The Vulcans answered in the top of the second with back-to-back doubles by junior shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) and senior center fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California).

The Lakers had runners on third in both the fourth and fifth innings before Burton prevented another run from scoring. In the sixth, Cal U trimmed the deficit to 6-3 with a two-run double by Peters after a one-out fielding error allowed sophomore designated hitter David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) to reach base.

Peters paced the offensive effort by going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and RBI and scoring one run. Orr added a pair of hits and one run scored in the loss.

Cal U continues its weekend series with Mercyhurst tomorrow, Saturday, April 12, by hosting a doubleheader at CONSOL Energy Park, starting at 1 p.m.