ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon baseball team is getting used to being “even stevens.” The Golden Knights earned a four-game split Friday afternoon against Clarion at Jerry Uht Park, winning the first game 6-3 and dropping the second game 2-1. It was the squad's fourth four-game split in five Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference series this season.

In the opener, Jeff Jones (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) was superb during his first conference start on the mound. The redshirt sophomore shut down the Clarion offense for five innings, before surrendering three runs in the sixth inning. He did not allow a hit through the first three innings and scattered a total of four hits in the first five frames.

Meanwhile, Gannon jumped out to a 6-0 lead with three two-run innings. The Golden Knights scored the first two runs in the second inning on Lou Downey's (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) RBI single and Tim Lipp's (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) bases-loaded walk.

Evan Baglieri's (Niagara Falls, Ontario/St. Michael's) two-out, RBI single started a two-run rally in the third inning. It was the start of three consecutive two-out singles. The final one by Michael Brosius (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) drove home Baglieri with Gannon's fourth run. The lead stretch to 6-0 in the fifth on a Downey sacrifice fly and another Brosius RBI single.

Clarion finally got to Jones in an unconventional way during the sixth inning, plating three runs to cut the deficit in half. The final two runs scored on a bases-loaded hit by pitch and a fielding error.

However, Don Marchione (Markham, Ontario/Br. Andre Catholic) came out of the bullpen to set down the Golden Eagles in order during the top of the seventh inning. As a result, the junior picked up his first career save during his first career relief appearance.

Baglieri singled in all three plate appearances, scoring twice and driving in a run. Downey and Brosius were both 2-for-2 with two RBI. Jones improved to 3-2 on the mound, surrendering three runs (two earned) on seven hits in six innings. He struck out a season-high seven and walked two.

The nightcap turned out to be a pitchers' dual as winds gusting up to 35 miles per hour blew in from right field. Gannon took the early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Kyle Harpster (Erie, Pa./McDowell) and Lipp opened the frame with back-to-back singles, before moving up a base on a wild pitch. Harpster then scored on Kolten Hoffman's (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) sacrifice fly.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be Gannon's only run of the game as the Golden Knights managed only four hits in the final six innings.

Clarion tied the game on Eric Grejda's RBI single in the second inning and tallied the winning run on Matt Rossi's RBI single in the third inning.

Gannon's best opportunity to tie the game came in the fifth inning when it put runners on second and third with one out. But Clarion's Eric Panko got out of the jam with a pair of fly-outs.

Lipp recorded two of Gannon's six hits in the second game. Four Golden Knights added one hit each. Marchione suffered the loss, dropping to 1-4. He allowed two runs in 2 1/3 innings of work, striking out one and walking three. Landon Wahl (Somerset, Pa./Somerset Area) tossed 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing only one hit. He struck out four and walked none.

Gannon moved to 14-20 overall and 9-11 in the PSAC Western Division with Friday's split. Clarion is now 7-20 overall and 5-7 in conference play. The Golden Knights conclude PSAC play next weekend against California (Pa.). The two squads square off Friday, April 22 at Cal. The series concludes Saturday, April 23 at Gannon University Field.

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

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