ERIE, Pa. - Paul McKenna's (Oakville, Ontario/Iroquois Ridge) first career shutout helped the Gannon baseball team earn a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division doubleheader split against Clarion Thursday afternoon at Gannon University Field. The Golden Knights dropped the first game 4-2, before responding with a 3-0 shutout in the nightcap.

Clarion served as the home team and batted last in both games despite the doubleheader being played at Gannon University Field. The games were originally scheduled for Clarion's home field, but were moved due to field conditions.

McKenna was spectacular in the second game, scattering seven hits while striking out four and walking none. The junior allowed only one runner past second base en route to his first collegiate complete game. That occurred in the bottom of the first inning when he stranded a runner on third base with an inning-ending ground-out.

Gannon scored what turned out to be the only run it would need in the top of the first inning. Kyle Harpster (Erie, Pa./McDowell) led off the game with a single to right field and then stole second base. Kolten Hoffman (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) followed with an RBI single to center field.

Head coach Nate Cocolin's squad added insurance runs in the third and seventh innings. Harpster was the spark plug again, reaching on a lead-off walk. He moved to third with a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt, before scoring on Hoffman's infield single into the hole at short.

Hoffman completed his RBI trifecta in the final frame. Tim Lipp (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) had a two-out single to left field and advanced to second with a stolen base. Hoffman then drove Lipp home with the final run on an RBI single to center field.

Hoffman recorded three of Gannon's seven hits in the second game, going 3-for-4 with all three RBI. Harpster was 1-for-3 and scored two runs.

In the opener, four of the game's six runs were scored in the first inning. Gannon began the fireworks with two runs in the top of the frame. Harpster led off the game with a walk, before moving to third on a wild pitch and a sacrifice bunt. He then scored on Hoffman's RBI ground-out. One batter later, Michael Tomko (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) blasted his third home run of the season 10 yards past the left field fence.

Clarion wasted little time responding, immediately tying the contest with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. Matt Rossi drove in the first run with a double and later scored on Bill Hasson's two-out, RBI single through the left side.

The Golden Eagles forged ahead in the bottom of the third inning by stringing three consecutive singles together with no outs. Josh Beimel's two-out, RBI single provided an insurance run in the fourth.

Gannon managed only six hits during the loss and never advanced past second base after the first inning. Tomko accounted for three of the six hits.

David Hucsko (Cambridge, Ontario/Preston) dropped to 2-5 on the mound, allowing four runs on six hits in five innings. The senior struck out three and walked four. Landon Wahl (Somerset, Pa./Somerset Area) tossed a scoreless relief inning, striking out one.

Gannon moved to 13-19 overall and 8-10 in the PSAC Western Division with Thursday's split. Clarion is now 6-19 overall and 4-6 in conference play. The two teams conclude their four-game series Friday, April 15 at Jerry Uht Park. The twinbill is scheduled for 1 p.m.

For a complete box score from the first game of Thursday's Gannon-Clarion baseball doubleheader, please click here.

For a complete box score from the second game of Thursday's Gannon-Clarion baseball doubleheader, please click here.