WASHINGTON, Pa. (March 29) – The No. 25 California University of Pennsylvania baseball team dropped the opening doubleheader of its series versus No. 13 Mercyhurst on Friday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, falling 3-1 in Game 1 before suffering a 5-1 loss in Game 2 at Wild Things Park.
 
With the losses, the Vulcans drop to 17-6 this season behind a 4-2 record in league play. Meanwhile, the Lakers improve to 13-3 overall with a 5-1 mark in conference action after claiming the Atlantic Region Championship last season.
 
In Game 1, Mercyhurst scored two runs in the first inning after the leadoff batter reached base on a wild pitch after striking out. With one out, the Lakers laced a double down the right-field line to score the base runner to take an early 1-0 lead. Later in the frame, Mercyhurst drew a walk before recording a RBI single to right-center with two outs to extend the advantage, 2-0. Cal U responded in the bottom half of the inning with a solo homer to left-center from senior first baseman Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson), his third of the season, to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Vulcans closed the frame by stranding runners on the corners. In the top of the second, Mercyhurst senior Domenic DeRenzo belted a solo homer to left-center, his fourth of the year, to stretch the lead to 3-1. The Vulcans escaped potential damage in the top of the third after recording three-straight outs following a leadoff triple. In the bottom of the third, Cal U left a runner on third after a ground-out closed the inning. The Vulcans posted back-to-back singles from freshman second baseman Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) and freshman shortstop Anthony Venezia (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) in the bottom of the fourth with two outs before the inning ended with a strikeout. Both teams went scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings before the Vulcans looked to rally in the seventh. Senior center fielder Ben Maudie (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) was hit by a pitch with one out and advanced to second on a ground-out. Fairman registered an infield single to put runners on the corners before a fielder's choice closed the contest.
 
Fairman finished 2-for-3 with a solo homer and one stolen base, while McCaskey also went 2-for-3 versus Mercyhurst.
 
Junior starter Nick Riggle (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) was saddled with the loss (3-1) after tossing a 7.0-inning, complete-game, his second of the season. He yielded three runs (all earned) on six hits with a career-high seven strikeouts over 7.0 innings (124 pitches). Laker senior Christian Young, a NCAA Division I transfer from West Virginia, improved to 3-0 this year after surrendering one run (earned) on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in 6.0 innings (103 pitches). Sophomore Adam Jeannette secured the save after working 1.0 scoreless inning of the relief with a strikeout.
 
In Game 2, Cal U scored in the first inning after Maudie led off with a single up the middle before moving to second on a wild pitch. He then stole third and scored on the same play after an error on a failed pickoff attempt to put the Vulcans ahead 1-0. In the bottom of the second, freshman right fielder Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) notched a double down the right-field line with one out before moving to third on a wild pitch. The Vulcans were unable to score the runner from third after a strikeout ended the inning. Following a scoreless third inning, Mercyhurst tallied two runs on three hits to take the lead. The Lakers scored on a sacrifice fly to center field before posting another run on an RBI single, 2-1. In the fifth, Brogan reached base to start the frame on a fielding error by the pitcher before stealing second. Freshman catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) then drew a walk before consecutive strikeouts left the runners on base. Fairman reached base on a walk in the bottom of the sixth before stealing both second and third base. With two outs, Fairman attempted to steal home, but was ruled out on a close play at the plate to keep Mercyhurst ahead by a one run. The Lakers extended the advantage in the top of the seventh with three run on two hits after scoring a run on a bases-loaded walk, 3-1. Mercyhurst delivered a two-run single through the left side on the following at-bat to hold a 5-1 lead.
 
Maudie finished 1-for-3 with one run scored and one stolen base, plus Brogan went 1-for-2 with a walk and one stolen base.
 
Junior starter Bradyn Kail (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) suffered the loss (4-1) after allowing four runs (all earned) on five hits with a career-high nine strikeouts over 6.1 innings (119 pitches). He retired the side in order three times, while forcing six fly-outs and three ground-outs. Redshirt senior Matthew Minnick earned with win (2-1) after yielding one run (unearned) on two hits and recorded 16 strikeouts in 6.0 innings (87 pitches).
 
Cal U returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, March 30, when it continues its series versus Mercyhurst in Erie, Pennsylvania, with a road doubleheader at 1 p.m.