ERIE, Pa. (April 9) – Senior center fielder Aaron Previsky (California, Pa./California) belted a game-winning, three-run homer in the seventh inning of Game 1 on Friday afternoon, as the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team split a doubleheader at Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, winning 4-3 in Game 1 before suffering a 7-4 loss in Game 2.

With the split, the Vulcans move to 15-7 overall with a 6-4 mark in divisional action. Meanwhile, the Lakers stand at 14-8 this season behind a 5-5 record in league play. Mercyhurst was chosen as the co-preseason favorite in the PSAC West after winning each of the last two NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships.

In Game 1, Cal U trailed 3-1 entering the seventh inning after being limited to just two hits in the game. Sophomore designated hitter David Lee (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) started the inning with a walk before sophomore Carter Chinn (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) later drew a pinch-hit walk with one out. Previsky then connected for the go-ahead, three-run homer – his second of the year – to left field on a 1-2 count.

Junior Patrick Gumto (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler) retired the first Mercyhurst batter in the bottom half before issuing a full-count walk. The Lakers then had runners on first and second following an error before Gumto recorded a strikeout and ground-out to end the game and record his third save of the year.

Senior Nick Riggle (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) earned the win to improve to 5-1 this season. He allowed three runs (all earned) on six hits and four walks over 6.0 innings (98 pitches). Riggle also moved into second place all-time in school history with 233.0 innings pitched, surpassing both Rick Krivda (1989-91) and Chris Doerschner (2004-07) on Friday. Mercyhurst starter Michael McDonough, a transfer from Cincinnati, took a no-decision despite recording eight strikeouts and allowing one run (earned) on two hits in 5.0 innings (76 pitches).

The Lakers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-out RBI single and threatened to add to the lead in the third after loading the bases with two outs before a fly-out ended the inning. Cal U tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the fourth on a solo homer by McCaskey, his fifth of the season. Mercyhurst answered in the fifth on a two-run single with two outs to seize a 3-1 lead.

Previsky collected two of the team's three hits in the victory.

In Game 2, junior Dylan Brosky (East Millsboro, Pa./Brownsville) suffered the loss to move to 5-1 this spring. He surrendered a career-high seven runs (four earned) on eight hits in 3.2 innings (69 pitches). Senior Richie Serignese (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) scattered one hit and tallied a pair of strikeouts over 2.1 innings of scoreless relief (33 pitches).

Mercyhurst claimed a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly before left fielder Matthew Gibson started the bottom of the second with a homer, 2-0. The Vulcans responded with three runs, all with two outs, in the third to claim the lead. Freshman second baseman Jax Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth) and McCaskey each collected RBI doubles in the third before junior right fielder Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) followed with a run-scoring single.

In the bottom of the third, third baseman Jack Elliott and catcher Philip Ferranti registered back-to-back homers to give Mercyhurst a 4-3 lead. Elliott stretched the advantage to 7-3 in the fourth with a three-run homer following a fielding error on a sacrifice bunt. The Vulcans trimmed the deficit in the top of the seventh with a two-out RBI single by junior shortstop Anthony Venezia (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler), 7-4.

Brogan went 2-for-3 with one RBI and junior catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) tallied two hits and scored twice in the loss.

Cal U continues the weekend series against Mercyhurst with a home doubleheader tomorrow, Saturday, April 10, at Wild Things Park with play starting at 1 p.m.