This past Friday and Saturday, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball and softball teams continued their PSAC West action with games against Mercyhurst, Gannon, and Seton Hill.

The Vulcans baseball team took the long drive to Erie, Pa. to take on the Lakers of Mercyhurst University. A game that started off slow for both sides then erupted in the third inning, as the Lakers scored 10 runs to put the game out of reach until the end. The Vulcans shook the rust off during the second game, however, registering six runs to take the victory in Erie 6-3. Splitting the games 1-1 moved the Vulcans within two games of the Lakers before the games on Saturday took place.

The Vulcans were back in the confines of Consol Energy Park on Saturday, April 23, to make a move in the PSAC West with at least a win. The Lakers came out of the gates early, putting two scores on the board through two innings played. The pitching became a problem for the Vulcans in the fourth inning, as they allowed six runs off of a homerun and a few RBI’s.

As a change came in during the fifth, the Vulcans couldn’t change the tides and allowed four more before the contest came to a close. With a final score of 12-2, Coach Conte and the Vulcans focused on the second game to change their luck and get a victory.

The second game of a double header started off with scoring from the beginning, as the Lakers scored 18 runs before the Vulcans could answer back with a score of their own. A final score of 19-2 did not accurately represent how the contest unfolded, however, as the Lakers got all of the chances through well placed hits, and help from their opposing pitchers with walks.

On the other side of the win-loss column, the Vulcans softball team played in two double-headers this weekend, one at home, and one away. Coming off of a week in which they had their first loss in 27 straight games, they wanted revenge. Already having beat the Golden Knights twice this season, Coach Rick Bertagnolli knew what he needed to do in order to turn their luck back around. With a shutout performance in the first game, that ended in a 4-0 victory, the Vulcans continued their strong showing in the second game with a 7-2 win.

The weekend ended with two games against the Seton Hill Griffins at home, a team they always seem to get rained out against. A fierce competition between the Griffins and Vulcans resulted in extra innings, as the Vulcans came away with a 5-4 victory in eight innings played. The second game featured a much bigger margin of victory, as well as a fifth inning departure, as the Vulcans won easily, 12-1.

The next game for the Vulcans will be against the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks in the PSAC Tournament, on April 27.