Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A pair of two-run innings and a stellar combined pitching effort from David Spaeder (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) and Phil Cacchione (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) helped the Gannon baseball team post a 5-1 victory against Bethel (Ind.) Tuesday afternoon at the Russ-Matt Invitational in Winter Haven, Florida. The victory in the second game of the twinbill earned the Golden Knights their second consecutive split after dropping the opening contest by a 2-1 count.

In the nightcap, Gannon got on the board first with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the second inning. After an error allowed runners to reach second and third with two outs, Dylan Schwegler (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell Area) drove home both runs with a single to center field.

Gannon tacked on two more runs with another two-out rally in the bottom of the third inning. Tim Lipp (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) and Michael Tomko (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) drew back-to-back walks, before Evan Baglieri (Niagara Falls, Ontario/St. Michael's) plated both runners with a double to right center.

Meanwhile, Spaeder was mowing down the opposition. The redshirt sophomore had a no-hitter through four innings, before allowing a single with one out in the top of the fifth inning. With runners on first and second, he got out of the jam with a pop-out and a ground-out.

The biggest Bethel threat came in the top of the sixth inning. The Pilots scored their only run and loaded the bases with two outs. But Cacchione came out of the bullpen and induced a ground-out to end the rally.

Gannon added an insurance run on Terry Carson's (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) RBI double in the bottom of the sixth, before Cacchione pitched a perfect seventh inning for his first career save.

Baglieri highlighted the Gannon offensive attack in the second game with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate with one run and two RBI. Carson, Schwegler and Ryan Turner (Pickering, Ontario/Dunbarton) accounted for the other three safeties during the five-hit attack.

Spaeder earned his first career victory, allowing one run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked two. Cacchione retired all four batters he faced, striking out one.

Bethel posted a walk-off victory in the opener after both teams had opportunities during the final inning. The Pilots scored the game's first run when the throw on a potential inning-ending double play was errant in the bottom of the third inning. Gannon tied the contest on Jeff Bellanca's (Grand Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) two-out, RBI single in the top of the fourth.

The two programs remained deadlocked until the seventh inning. Gannon had its chance in the top of the frame, putting runners on second and third with one out. But a failed suicide squeeze cost the Golden Knights a second out, before a fly-out ended the inning.

Bethel then manufactured the game-winning run during its final at-bat. Evan Pulliam drew a lead-off walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and went to third on a bunt single. He then crossed the plate with the winning run on a sacrifice fly to right field.

Bellanca and Turner recorded two hits each in the opener. Lipp and Baglieri accounted for Gannon's other two hits. The Golden Knights spoiled a great outing by freshman Matt Tobin (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep), who surrendered only one earned run in 6 1/3 innings. He allowed six hits, struck out three and walked two while tossing a complete game during his first career outing.

Gannon moved its record to 4-2 with Tuesday's split, Bethel is now 2-4. The Golden Knights continue play at the Russ-Matt Invitational Wednesday, February 29 against the University of Mary (N.D.). The twinbill is scheduled for 12 noon.