ERIE, Pa. (April 21) – The California (PA) baseball team began its weekend Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West series versus Mercyhurst with a doubleheader on the road on Friday afternoon. The Vulcans suffered a 3-1 walk-off loss in Game 1 while Game 2 was suspended in extra innings due to weather conditions until Sunday at Wild Things Park prior to the second doubleheader of the series.
With the loss in Game 1, the Vulcans fall to 18-16 overall with a 7-10 mark in league action. Meanwhile, the Lakers improve to 21-9 behind a 15-2 mark in conference contests, which is second-best in the PSAC West standings.
In Game 1, Mercyhurst claimed a 1-0 lead after a solo home run in the second inning. Through the next three innings, the teams were scoreless until a lead-off double to center field by sophomore third baseman
Nathan Meeks (New Castle, Pa./Union) put Cal in scoring position followed by an infield single from sophomore second baseman
Santino Marra (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) advanced Meeks to third. Junior shortstop
Brett Bobin (Wampum, Pa./Mohawk) notched a sacrifice fly to left field as the game was tied at 1-1. In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, the Lakers walked-off with a two-run homer for a 3-1 win.
Senior designated hitter
David Lee (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson), sophomore first baseman
Payton Conte (California, Pa./California) and sophomore center fielder
Adam Crawford (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) all finished the game going 2-for-4 at the plate.
Starting sophomore pitcher
Roman Gill (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) suffered the loss, as he allowed two runs (both allowed) on four hits in addition to tallying a pair of strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Mercyhurst relief pitcher Ben Berdine collected the win as he yielded two hits with no runs in 2.0 innings.
In Game 2, Marra gave the Vulcans a 1-0 advantage following a single to left field to score Meeks. The Lakers tied the game in the fifth inning with an RBI double to right field and later claimed a 2-1 edge in the sixth with a solo home run. In the top of the seventh with no outs and two runners in scoring position, a wild pitch tied the game at 2-2 as redshirt freshman
Conor Carney (Harmony, Pa./Seneca Valley) scored from third.
In extra innings, the Vulcans threatened to take the lead in the 12th inning as Lee launched a triple to right field, however, he was unable to score and the game remained deadlocked at 2-2. The game was suspended in the bottom of the 12th with one out and a runner on first base.
The teams will resume Game 2 of the initial twinbill with the final doubleheader of the series scheduled to follow at Wild Things Park in Washington, Pennsylvania on Sunday, April 23.
