MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - A 10-hit attack helped
Aaron Cox (Dorchester, N.J./Millville) pick up his third victory of the season Friday afternoon as the Gannon baseball team split a non-conference doubleheader against Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) member Walsh on a neutral field at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. The Golden Knights out-slugged the Cavaliers 8-6 during the opener, before falling 6-2 in the nightcap.
In the opener, Gannon scored eight runs during its first four at-bats. The Golden Knights wasted little time scoring, plating two runs in the top of the first inning on Cox's RBI ground-out and
Zack Ranta's (Hamilton, Ontario/Orchard Park Secondary) RBI single.
Walsh forged ahead with a single run during the first and two more in the third. But Gannon fought right back, exploding with four two-out runs during the top of the third inning.
Jared Wiesen's (Girard, Ohio/Liberty) RBI single tied the contest at three, before
Mark DeVita's (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) two-run single put the Golden Knights in front 5-3.
Bob Roach (Erie, Pa./McDowell) capped the outburst with an RBI single of his own.
Gannon tacked on a pair of insurance runs during the top of the fourth inning which eventually proved to be the difference. Once again, the big hit came with two outs when Wiesen drove home a pair of runs with a single. In all, six of Gannon's eight runs came with two outs.
The fourth-inning runs were needed as Walsh rallied with a three-spot during the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 8-6. But the Cavaliers could get no closer.
Wiesen led the offensive unit with a 2-for-4 showing, one run and three RBIs. Cox went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
Taylor Anderson (Niagara Falls, Ontario/A.N. Myer Secondary) and
Sean Sutton (Toronto, Ontario/Brebeuf College) scored five times from Gannon's top two spots in the line-up.
Cox improved to 3-1 with his third complete game of the season, allowing six runs on 11 hits through seven innings. The sophomore struck out seven and walked one.
In the nightcap, Gannon struck first yet again. This time it came via two unearned runs during the top of the first inning. Anderson reached on an error and later scored the first run when Cox reached on an error. He eventually came around to score on Wiesen's RBI single.
Walsh did all the damage it needed with a six-run explosion during the bottom of the third inning. The Cavaliers crossed the plate six times on five hits, one error, one walk and one batter who reached on a passed ball after a strikeout. In all, 11 players came to the plate during the third inning.
Gannon went down in order during two of the final four frames. The Golden Knights' biggest threat came during the fifth inning when they placed runners on second and third with two outs, but a pop-out ended the rally.
Cox recorded two of Gannon's five hits during the second game.
Matt Wilwohl (Erie, Pa./McDowell) dropped to 0-3 despite a 3.68 ERA in 22 innings this season. The sophomore allowed six runs against Walsh, but only two were earned during his third complete game of 2014. He struck out a career-high nine and walked four.
Gannon moved its record to 4-10 with Friday's split. Walsh is now 7-9. The Golden Knights return to action Friday, March 21 against California (Pa.) at Gannon University Field. The first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division doubleheader of the season begins at 1 p.m.
