ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon University baseball team swept a doubleheader with Clarion Saturday afternoon. The Golden Knights won by scores of 5-3 and 8-5 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division games at Gannon University Field. In the second contest, Michael Tomko (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) hit a grand slam to break a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning. 

The Golden Eagles scored three runs in the top of the sixth to even the score. In the bottom half, Brandon Crum (Saegertown, Pa./Saegertown) led off with a single to rightfield. Tim Lipp (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) then reached on an error by reliever Kevin Gnacinski. After Kyle Harpster (Erie, Pa./McDowell) sacrificed both runners over, Kolten Hoffman (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) was intentionally walked. Tomko then blasted a 1-0 pitch over the fence in leftfield to give the Knights an 8-4 edge. 

Clarion scored a run in the seventh, but Drew Rojek (Lake View, N.Y./Frontier) secured the victory with a strikeout and a groundout to second base to end the game. 

Clarion scored in the first inning to go up 1-0 before GU responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth frame. Jeff Jones (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) drove in Shaine Patsilevas (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) with a single to tie the game. 

In the fifth inning, Gannon appeared to take control, scoring three runs to go ahead 4-1. Greg Radwan's (Farnham, N.Y./St. Francis) two-run double was the key hit in the rally. The Eagles weren't done, however, as they put together a three-run inning of their own in the top of the sixth.

Starter David Hucsko (Cambridge, Ontario/Preston) pitched five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. Rojek got the save, going two innings. He gave up a run on two hits. Radwan went 2-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Crum had two hits and scored a run, while Tomko went 1-3 with four RBIs and a run scored. 

In the first game, Clarion went up 1-0 on a Ken Morgan home run. GU answered with two runs in the bottom of the second inning and three more in the third. Patsilevas hit a two-out triple to right centerfield in the second frame. Jones followed with an RBI double and then Lipp singled through the left side to plate Jones. 

In the third, Tomko drew a one-out walk and Radwan recorded a base hit up the middle. Tomko advanced to third base on a throw over the first baseman's head. Crum's bunt drew a throw home, but Tomko slid underneath for a run. Jones eventually doubled down the leftfield line to drive in two runs and put Gannon up 5-1. 

The Eagles scored twice in the fourth, but Evan Euler (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) was able to escape trouble from there and get the victory. Euler pitched six innings and gave up three runs on seven hits. He struck out six hitters. Rojek picked up his second save of the season, throwing a hitless seventh inning. Jones went 3-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Patsilevas had two hits and scored a run. 

The Knights improved to 17-13 overall, 11-5 PSAC. They host California (Pa.) Friday, April 9. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Gannon University Field. A complete box score for Saturday's first game is available here. The second game is here.