ERIE, Pa. -
Aaron Cox (Dorchester, N.J./Millville) and
Aaron Jackson (Sugar Grove, Pa./Eisenhower) produced a pair of complete-game efforts on the mound as the Gannon baseball team split its opening Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division doubleheader Friday afternoon at a chilly Gannon University Field. The Golden Knights rallied to post a 3-2 victory during the first game, before dropping a 2-0 decision in the nightcap.
With temperatures hovering in the 30's, the two teams ripped through both games in three hours and 20 minutes. In the opener, California (Pa.) was unable to hold onto leads of 1-0 and 2-1. Gannon scored its first run during the bottom of the fourth inning. Cox had a one-out double off the wall in right center and then came around to score on
Zack Ranta's (Hamilton, Ontario/Orchard Park Secondary) RBI single down the left field line.
The visitors pushed back ahead with a single run during the top of the fifth, but Gannon rallied yet again with the game's two deciding runs in the bottom of the sixth. Cox and Ranta led off with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners.
Taylor Anderson (Niagara Falls, Ontario/A.N. Myer Secondary) followed by greeting new pitcher Alex Ziegler with a game-tying double down the right field line.
Ziegler started to walk off the mound after getting a ground-out and strikeout, thinking he got out of the jam. But there were only two outs. So,
Tommy Roache (Ormond Beach, Fla./Father Lopez Catholic) stepped into the box and tapped a grounder to third. The Cal third baseman charged the ball, but his throw to first was in the dirt and allowed Ranta to score the go-ahead run.
That was all Cox needed. The sophomore right-hander mowed down the Vulcans in order during the top of the seventh inning, improving to 4-1 with his fourth complete game of the season. He allowed only four hits while striking out seven and walking two.
Cox and Ranta picked up four of Gannon's nine hits. Both went 2-for-3. Cox scored twice while Ranta accounted for one run and one RBI. Seven Golden Knights recorded a hit.
In the nightcap, Jackson tossed his first career complete game with a five-hitter. However, he was out-dueled by California's Jack Dennis who countered with a four-hit shutout.
Cal's single runs during the third and fourth innings were enough to give the Vulcans a 2-0 victory. Jackson allowed two runs in seven innings. The redshirt freshman struck out three and walked four while throwing exactly 100 pitches.
Gannon moved its record to 5-11 overall and 1-1 in the PSAC Western Division with Friday's split. Cal is now 10-6 overall and 1-1 in divisional play. The two teams conclude a four-game series Saturday, March 22 with another doubleheader at Consol Energy Park in Washington, Pa. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
