ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon baseball team offset frigid temperatures with red hot bats Sunday afternoon while opening the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schedule with a sweep of Clarion at Gannon University Field. The Golden Knights posted the sweep by scores of 13-0 and 4-2.
Gannon was in firm control of the opener from the first pitch, getting immediately on the board during the first inning.
Michael Tomko (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) singled to center field with two outs, before stealing both second and third base. He then scored on
Shayne Herold's (LeRoy, N.Y./LeRoy) RBI double.
The contest got out of hand after Gannon scored four times during the second inning and six more times during the third. The Golden Knights produced a two-out rally in the second with RBI singles by
Taylor Anderson (Niagara Falls, Ontario/A.N. Myer Secondary) and
Dylan Schwegler (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell Area) followed by a Tomko two-run double.
The two-out lightning continued with a six-spot during the third at-bat. Tomko's bases-clearing triple to center was the big blow. Gannon capped the scoring with
Nico Baldelli's (Ellwood, Pa./Riverside) RBI single and
Eric Bradley's (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant) RBI double during the fourth inning.
Tomko headlined the offensive attack with a 3-for-5 showing, scoring twice and driving in five runs. Anderson, Herold, Baldelli and Bradley recorded two hits each. Two runs were driven home by both Anderson and Herold. Baldelli led the team in runs scored with three. Anderson, Schwegler and Jared Weisen (Girard, Ohio/Liberty) crossed the plate two times apiece.
Aaron Cox (Dorchester, N.J./Millville) improved to 3-0 with his first career shutout, tossing a three-hitter. The freshman struck out 10 and walked two while facing only two hitters above the minimum.
The nightcap was much closer. Clarion drew first blood with two runs during the first inning. However, Gannon clawed back to tie the contest with single runs during the second and third innings. Baldelli's two-out RBI single during the second inning cut the deficit to 2-1. With two outs in the third, Schwegler tripled to right center and later scored the tying run on a double steal with Tomko.
Bob Roach (Erie, Pa./McDowell) got in on the two-out trend during the fourth inning, snapping a 2-2 tie with a two-run single to left field.
That was all
Matt Tobin (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) would need. The sophomore set down Clarion in order during its final three at-bats after Gannon took the lead. He improved to 3-0 with his second complete game of the season. Tobin allowed two runs on four hits, striking out two with no walks.
Six different Golden Knights recorded a hit during the second game. Wiesen scored two runs while four other Gannon players touched home plate once.
Gannon improved to 8-6 overall and 2-0 in the PSAC Western Division with Sunday's sweep. Clarion remained winless at 0-12 overall and 0-2 in conference play. The four-game series concludes Monday, March 25 with another doubleheader at Gannon University Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
