ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon baseball team's postseason fate will be determined during the next two weekends. A critical eight-game stretch that concludes the regular season begins this weekend when the Golden Knights and California (Pa.) engage with first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division on the line.
The four-game weekend set begins Friday, April 20 when the two clubs square off in a doubleheader at Gannon University Field. Live gameday statistics will be available at
http://www.gannon.edu/athletics/men/baseball/lstats/XLIVE.HTM. The series concludes Saturday, April 21 with another twinbill at California (Pa.). Live gameday statistics will be available for Saturday's games at
http://www.sidearmstats.com/cup/baseball/scoreboard.aspx. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. both days.
The PSAC enters the final two weeks of regular-season play with a three-way tie for first place in the Western Division. Gannon, California (Pa.) and Mercyhurst are sitting in the top spot with identical 10-6 conference marks. California (Pa.) and Mercyhurst split a four-game series earlier in the season. While Gannon and Cal battle this weekend, Mercyhurst will be playing a four-game series against Clarion.
The top four teams in the Western Division will qualify for the PSAC Tournament scheduled for May 2-5 at Pullman Park in Butler, Pa. Gannon concludes the regular season next weekend with a four-game set against Mercyhurst.
Gannon brings a 21-17 overall record into this weekend's series against Cal. The Golden Knights dropped three games last weekend against eighth-ranked Seton Hill as every setback came during Seton Hill's final at-bat.
Head coach
Nate Cocolin's club has already surpassed last year's victory total by six games with eight regular-season contests remaining. The Golden Knights are trying to rewrite the history books as the program has not recorded a winning season since 1985 and has never finished more than four games over .500 during its 54-year history.
Four Golden Knights continue to hit .300 or better.
Michael Tomko (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) leads the way in average (.357), runs (27), triples (6), home runs (6), RBIs (38), total bases (83) and slugging percentage (.643). The junior outfielder ranks second among PSAC players in triples, third in RBIs and fourth in total bases.
Evan Baglieri (Niagara Falls, Ontario/St. Michael's) is hitting .315 with 13 doubles, 19 runs and 32 RBIs. The senior third baseman ranks third among conference players in doubles and eighth in RBIs.
Seven Golden Knights have earned run averages of 4.00 or lower for a pitching staff that ranks fourth in the conference.
Matt Tobin (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) ranks fourth among eligible PSAC pitchers with a 2.47 ERA to go along with his 3-3 record.
Paul McKenna (Oakville, Ontario/Iroquois Ridge) enters the weekend with a 6-3 record and a 3.54 ERA. The senior right-hander leads the conference in complete games (6). He ranks second in victories, sixth in innings pitched (53.1) and eighth in strikeouts (47).
California (Pa.), ranked seventh in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Atlantic regional rankings, enters the weekend with a 23-17 overall record. The Vulcans have dropped four of their last five games, including a doubleheader split against Davis & Elkins Wednesday afternoon.
Five Vulcans are hitting .300 or better for a team that ranks fourth among PSAC teams in batting average. Junior Kyle Petty headlines the offensive attack with a .336 average, 28 runs, 21 RBIs, 13 stolen bases and a .537 slugging percentage. Sophomore Ben Carson is hitting .321 and ranks fourth among PSAC players with 21 stolen bases.
Petty has also done damage on the mound, leading the conference in victories with a 7-1 record to go along with a 4.45 ERA. Freshman Justin Taylor has the lowest earned run average among the starters with a 2-1 record and 3.25 ERA. Senior Jim Kirker has been the Vulcans' closer with a 4-0 mark, two saves and a 1.19 ERA.
California (Pa.) has held the upper hand against Gannon since the Golden Knights entered the PSAC. The Vulcans have won 11 of the 12 meetings since 2009 with Gannon securing its lone victory by a 6-3 count at home last season.
