WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 23) – The Vulcans split a home doubleheader against Mercyhurst at Wild Things Park on Sunday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, suffering a 9-2 loss in Game 1 before rallying for a 7-4 victory in Game 2, plus dropped a 3-2 loss in extra innings as the remainder of suspended Game 2 in the series from Friday was played prior to the home twinbill. 

With the contests on Sunday, the California (PA) baseball team moves to 19-18 overall with an 8-12 record in conference play. Meanwhile, the Lakers improve to 23-10 behind a 17-3 mark in PSAC West competition as they currently sit in second place in the West division.

In the final game of the series, Mercyhurst led by a 3-0 after the first inning. The Vulcans cut the deficit to 3-1 following an RBI single through the left side from Brett Bobin (Wampum, Pa./Mohawk) that scored sophomore second baseman Santino Marra (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands). In the next half inning, the Lakers extended their advantage to 4-1 boefore junior catcher Jayden Taitano (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) singled to center field to drive in sophomore center fielder Adam Crawford (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny), 4-2.

In the bottom of the third, Bobin blasted his first home run of the season over the left-field fence as the Vulcans trailed 4-3. A throwing error by Mercyhurst in the fourth allowed Cal to tie the game at 4-4 when sophomore third baseman Nathan Meeks (New Castle, Pa./Union) crossed home plate. Marra notched a two-run single to left field later in the fourth to give the Vulcans a 6-4 edge. Cal grew its cushion to a 7-4 margin after a throwing error allowed freshman right fielder Jake Walker (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) to score. Starting freshman Dylan Mathiesen (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) held Mercyhurst to one hit in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.

Bobin finished the game 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and one run scored, while Marra went 1-for-2 with two RBI and two walks. Mathiesen collected the complete-game win as he allowed four runs (all earned) on seven hits and tallied four strikeouts. Mercyhurst starting pitcher Corbin Foy suffered the loss while yielding six runs (three earned) on six hits with two strikeouts.

During Game 3 of the series, the Lakers jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the third inning. Mercyhurst stretched the lead to 4-0 in the fourth after a two-run homer to left center. The Lakers added two more runs in the fifth following a two-run single to left field as they led by a 6-0 margin. Bobin drove in Marra on a single to right field to cut the deficit to 6-1. In the top of the sixth, Mercyhurst added a trio of runs to claim a 9-1 advantage. Sophomore left fielder Ryan Callahan (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley) recorded an RBI-double in left field to drive in Bobin as the Vulcans trimmed the deficit to 9-2.

Bobin notched two hits and one RBI and senior designated hitter David Lee (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) and redshirt freshman Conor Carney (Harmony, Pa./Seneca Valley) both went 2-for-4. Freshman starting pitcher Nathan Holmes (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) was dealt the loss while surrendering four runs (all earned) on five hits with a trio of strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Mercyhurst starting pitcher Aiden Kelly registered the win by allowing one run (earned) on six hits with half a dozen strikeouts in 5.0 innings.

Game 2 of the initial doubleheader started in the bottom of the 12th with one out and a runner on first base before senior Devin Foster (Davidsville, Pa./Conemaugh Township) struck out consecutive batters to force another inning. In the bottom of the 13th with a runner on third, Mercyhurst registered a walk-off single down the right-field line, 3-2.

Marra went 3-for-6 with an RBI and Meeks tallied three hits and scored once. Crawford posted two hits in five plate appearances. Foster was handed the loss after allowing one run (earned) on two hits with a pair of strikeouts in 1.1 innings. Mercyhurst reliever John Bufford, Jr. registered the win while yielding three hits with two strikeouts in 3.0 scoreless innings.

Cal returns to action on Tuesday, April 25, as it hosts Salem in non-conference action at Wild Things Park, starting at 12 p.m.