ERIE, Pa. (April 1) – The Vulcans claimed a split in a doubleheader at No. 14 Mercyhurst on Monday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, posting a 10-4 victory in Game 1 before suffering a 4-1 loss in Game 2.
 
With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team stands a 18-7 overall with a 5-3 mark in league action. Meanwhile, the Lakers move to 14-4 this season behind a 6-2 record in conference play.
 
In Game 1, senior starter Tyler Eritz (Oakdale, Pa./West Allegheny) improved to 4-0 this season after yielding three runs (two earned) on one hit with six strikeouts and seven walks over 5.1 innings (102 pitches). He is currently tied for the team lead with four wins and ranks among the top three on the team in strikeouts. Freshman Dylan Brosky (East Millsboro, Pa./Brownsville) secured his second save of the season after surrendering one run (earned) on one hit with three strikeouts and three walks in 1.2 innings of relief.
 
The Lakers established the lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead before the Vulcans responded with one run in the second frame. Junior third baseman Corey Fogle (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) reached base on an error before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt and a ground-out. Senior center fielder Ben Maudie (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) posted an RBI single through the left side to tie the contest at 1-1. Both teams went scoreless in third and fourth innings before the Vulcans extended the lead to 3-1 in the fifth. Maudie led off the frame with a double down the right-field line and senior left fielder Nico Marchetti (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) followed with a walk. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position before Maudie scored on a passed ball. With two outs, freshman right fielder Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) delivered an RBI single to right field to stretch the advantage. In the top of the sixth, Fogle led off with a double to left field and moved to third on a ground-out. The following play, Maudie reached on an error that allowed Fogle to score, 4-1. Cal U stranded a pair of runners in scoring position to end the sixth inning. Mercyhurst answered the bottom half of the frame scoring on a bases-loaded walk before tallying a run on a passed ball to trim the deficit to 4-3.
 
The Vulcans broke the game open in the seventh with six runs on three hits after sophomore pinch hitter Bill Hitman (Norristown, Pa./Pope John Paul II) drew a walk. Junior Aaron Previsky (California, Pa./California) entered the game as a pinch-runner and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Freshman second baseman Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) registered a double down the right-field line to extend the advantage to 5-3 before Fogle notched an RBI single to left field. Freshman catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) then drew a walk before both runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. With one out, freshman shortstop Anthony Venezia (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) drew a walk before Fogle scored on a wild pitch, 7-3. A passed ball scored Stewart and Marchetti followed with a walk to put runners on the corners. After a stolen base by Marchetti, senior first baseman Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) delivered a two-run single to right field to stretch the lead to 10-3. The Lakers tallied one run in the bottom half before stranding a pair of runners in scoring position to close out the game.
 
Fogle finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and three runs scored, while Maudie went 2-for-5 with one RBI, one run scored and three stolen bases. Webb finished 1-for-3 with two RBI, plus Marchetti drew three walks with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
 
In Game 2, the Vulcans took the early advantage after Maudie led off with a single up the middle in the first inning. He advanced two bases on a ground-out before scoring on a wild pitch, as Cal U took a 1-0 lead. The Vulcans attempted to add runs in the top of the second with a pair of base runners before consecutive strikeouts halted the threat. The sides were retired in order in the third frame before Mercyhurst countered in the bottom of the fourth. Laker redshirt junior Hunter Snyder belted a solo homer, his second of the season, to tie the game at 1-1. Mercyhurst extended the advantage in the fifth on a two-run homer from senior Domenic DeRenzo, his team-leading fifth of the year, to take a 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, the Lakers tallied an insurance run on a passed ball to build a 4-1 advantage.
 
Webb finished 1-for-2 with a walk, while Maudie went 1-for-4 with one run scored.
 
Senior starter Damian Clarke (Carlisle, Ontario/Waterdown) was saddled with the loss (2-1) after surrendering four runs (all earned) on six hits with five strikeouts and one walk in 5.1 innings. Mercyhurst senior Russell Lamovec earned the win (3-0) after yielding one run (earned) on four hits with 10 strikeouts and two walks over 6.0 innings. Freshman Lucas Folmar collected his second save after working 1.0 scoreless inning with two strikeouts.
 
Cal U continues PSAC West action on Friday, April 5, when it travels to face Pitt-Johnstown for a road doubleheader at 1 p.m.