WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 15) – The Vulcans dropped both games of a doubleheader against Mercyhurst on Friday afternoon at Wild Things Park in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, falling 10-3 and 4-3 in extra innings.

With the losses, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team falls to 22-11 overall behind a 7-7 record in divisional action. The Vulcans played their first extra-inning game of the year on Friday after posting a 7-6 mark in extra innings over the previous four years. Meanwhile, Mercyhurst improves to 20-8 this season with a 9-5 record in league play.

In Game 2, the Vulcans scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-2 lead before the Lakers tied the score in the sixth on a sacrifice fly. Following a scoreless seventh, Mercyhurst scored the game-winning run in the top of the eighth.

Freshman Tanner Phillips (Dover, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley) suffered the loss after allowing one run (earned) on zero hits and two walks in 2.1 innings of relief. Redshirt freshman Aidan Ruiz (Perry Hall, Md./The John Carroll School) took a no-decision while making his first career start. He yielded three runs (all earned) on five hits and two walks in 5.0 innings (77 pitches) while totaling six strikeouts.

Mercyhurst took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and Cal U looked to answer in the third. The Vulcans had runners on second and third with one out before a pair of ground-outs to third base prevented a run from scoring. The Lakers stretched the lead to 2-0 in the fifth before the Vulcans responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Cal U opened the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back singles before a fielding error on a sacrifice bunt loaded the bases. Senior left fielder Nick Serafino (McDonald, Pa./Canon-McMillan) then scored on a fielder's choice and senior catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) later scored on a sacrifice fly while an errant throw on the play allowed a second run to score, 3-2.

In the sixth, the Lakers had runners on the corners with one out before tying the scoring on a sacrifice fly. Mercyhurst opened the top of the eighth with a walk and a sacrifice bunt before an intentional walk prompted a pitching change. The Lakers then registered a single to score the go-ahead run before a pair of strikeouts ended the inning. Cal U looked to counter with a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt advanced the runner into scoring position. However, the next two batters were retired in order.

Stewart finished 2-for-3 with one run scored, while junior David Lee (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) went 2-for-2 after entering the game as a pinch-hitter in the sixth.

In Game 1, Mercyhurst held a 4-1 lead before scoring six runs in the top of the seventh. Senior Dylan Brosky (East Millsboro, Pa./Brownsville) was saddled with the loss after working just over 1.0 inning due to injury. Sophomore Brett Bobin (Wampum, Pa./Mohawk) worked a career-high 4.2 innings of relief (104 pitches), allowing four runs (all earned) on three hits with seven strikeouts.

The Lakers took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first before the Vulcans cut the deficit in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single by senior third baseman Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes). Mercyhurst added to the lead with a pair of runs with two outs in the third before leaving the bases loaded, 4-1.

In the seventh, the Lakers scored six runs on just two hits with a grand slam by first baseman Josh Surowiec to take a 10-1 lead. Cal U scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the inning on a two-out single by freshman center fielder Adam Crawford (North Fayette, Pa./West Allegheny).

Crawford reached base in all four plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with two RBI, one run and one walk. McCaskey went 2-for-3 with one RBI in the contest.

The Vulcans continue their series with the Lakers tomorrow, Saturday, April 16, with a doubleheader in Erie, Pennsylvania, starting at 1 p.m.