Evan Baglieri

Baseball Dan Teliski, Director of Athletics Media Relations

Gannon Baseball Team Rallies During Both Games of a PSAC Sweep Against First-Place Clarion (Video)

Senior Evan Baglieri drove in five runs during a 15-10 victory, before recording a walk-off single during a 4-3 win in game two.
ERIE, Pa. – Evan Baglieri's (Niagara Falls, Ontario/St. Michael's) walk-off, two-out single capped a dramatic day that saw the Gannon baseball team rallied during both games of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division doubleheader sweep against Clarion Friday afternoon at Gannon University Field. The Golden Knights posted the sweep by scores of 15-10 and 4-3.

Gannon played from behind for the majority of the second game, trailing 2-0 after Clarion scored twice on only one hit during the top of the second inning. The Golden Knights finally dented Clarion starting pitcher Mike Dunn's armor during the bottom of the fifth inning.

Lou Downey (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) led off the frame with a bomb off the right field netting that resulted in a triple. Michael Brosius (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) then drove Downey home with a ground-out to second base.

But the rally wasn't over as Dylan Schwegler (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell Area) immediately doubled down the left field line. The freshman moved to third on a ground-out, before Tim Lipp (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) drove home the tying run with a two-out single to left.

The game then came down to the final inning. Clarion was the first to produce a clutch hit as Ken Morgan doubled to left center with two outs. Bill Hasson followed with a single to center, putting the Golden Eagles in front 3-2.

Gannon refused to go down without a fight. Brosius ignited the rally with a line drive to right field. Schwegler moved Brosius to second with a single while trying to lay down a sacrifice bunt. After Kyle Harpster (Erie, Pa./McDowell) moved runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt, Lipp was intentionally walked to load the bases. Tomko made Clarion pay for its strategy with a sacrifice fly to left field that tied the game at three. Baglieri then came to the plate and delivered the game-winning single to left field as Schwegler slid under a high throw.

Lipp, Schwegler and Eric Bradley (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant) recorded two hits each during the 10-hit attack. Jeff Jones (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) received a no-decision on the mount despite a solid start. The redshirt junior only gave up one hit in 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs while striking out five. Landon Wahl (Somerset, Pa./Somerset Area) tossed 1 1/3 innings of relief to pick up the victory. He came out of the bullpen to strike out Kasey Clinton with a runner on second base and two outs in the sixth. Wahl gave up one run on two hits, striking out two and walking none.

In the opener, Gannon and Clarion combined to score 25 runs and record 30 hits. Clarion appeared to be running away with the game after taking a 6-1 lead after its first two at-bats. However, Gannon responded with four-run explosions in the second, fourth and fifth innings.

Michael Tomko's (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) two-out, two-run double cut the Clarion lead to 6-5 during the bottom of the second inning.  Harpster's two-run triple in the fourth put Gannon in front for good with a 7-6 advantage.

Leading 9-8, Gannon needed a big pickup from Wahl out of the bullpen during the top of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Wahl entered the game and struck out back-to-back hitters to preserve the one-run lead.  Baglieri had the key hit during the bottom of the fifth with a two-out, bases-clearing double for a 13-8 lead.

Clarion clawed within 13-10 after producing more two runs during the top of the sixth inning, before Schwegler's two-run double during the bottom of the frame capped the scoring.

Baglieri's game-winning single resulted in one of his game-high five RBIs during a 2-for-3 performance. Harpster and Lipp combined for six hits, six runs and five RBIs in Gannon's top two spots of the lineup. Harpster went 3-for-4 with four runs and three RBIs. Lipp finished 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Baglieri, Bradley and Brosious added two hits each.

Paul McKenna (Oakville, Ontario/Iroquois Ridge) picked up his team-high fifth victory on the mound, despite allowing eight runs (six earned) on 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings. The senior struck out four and walked two. Wahl picked up his third save with 2 2/3 innings of relief work. The senior gave up two runs on three hits, striking out two.

Gannon improved to 12-10 overall and 4-2 in the PSAC Western Division with its third consecutive victory. Clarion dropped to 5-9 overall and 4-2 in conference play after falling for the first two times against a PSAC opponent this season. The two programs conclude a weekend four-game series Sunday, March 25 at Gannon University Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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