The no. 4-ranked Mercyhurst Baseball team swept California University of Pennsylvania on Saturday, 4-3 and 6-1.

The win against the Vulcans is the team’s 18th win in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

“Anytime we can win a series in the PSAC boosts the team’s morale,” junior Hank Morrison said.

Saturday’s match-up against the Vulcans paired up junior Matt Jaskolka and junior Cam Knott as the starting pitchers for the sweep.

Jaskolka started in the first of the two games for the Lakers, giving up only three runs on five hits and struck out six batters. Jaskolka improved to 4-0 on the season.

Knott took the hill in the second game of the series, giving up only four hits and one unearned run. He struck out eight Vulcans, earning him his fifth win of the season and improving his record to 5-0.

Knott pitched five and one thirds inning before being relieved in the top of the sixth by freshman left handed pitcher, Matthew Minnick. Minnick pitched the rest of the sixth, allowing no hits and one strike out.

“I had all my pitches working for me,” Knott said, “I was able to throw all of my pitches for strikes no matter the count.”

Junior Jake Hall came in to close in the top of the seventh, allowing two hits and no runs giving the Lakers the 6-1 victory.

The Lakers offense was also a key component in the weekend sweep. Offensive leaders for game one include Morrison, Angel Martinez and Brendan Cox. Martinez and Morrison both contributed two hits and one run scored a piece while Cox contributed one hit and one run scored.

In game two, the offensive leaders were Martinez, Austin Alonge and Jake Marinelli. The three players combined for six of the teams’ 11 hits and five of six runs scored.

“Our pitching and offense as a team has been working will with each other,” said Cox, “the combination of the two is what has led to our successful season.”

The baseball team has had one of the most successful seasons thus far since the start of the program. Many of the players contribute experience to the success of the team.

“We have great team chemistry,” said Knott. “We have a lot of depth at every position, and everyone on our team is self-motivated and will do whatever it takes to go where we want.”

The Lakers look to continue the success with a playoff mentality and high morale despite losing captain Ryan Siegel.

“The team morale has been great,” said Cox, “We took a big hit when we lost our senior captain to an injury, but we bounced back as a team, rallied together and continued winning.”

The baseball team will be back in action at home this Friday against Indiana University of Pennsylvania in a doubleheader with the first game starting at 1 p.m.