Box Scores
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -
Dustin Godden (Brampton, Ontario/Mayfield Secondary) recorded the third no-hitter in school history and
Zack Ranta (Hamilton, Ontario/Orchard Park Secondary) tossed a nine-inning shutout, but the Gannon baseball team could only manage a doubleheader split against Findlay Wednesday afternoon at the Russ-Matt Invitational. The Oilers won the first game 1-0, before the Golden Knights got revenge with a 3-0 blanking during the second contest.
History was made in the opener as Godden became the first Golden Knight to throw a no-hitter since Joel Oakman performed the feat at Northwood in 2000. Ironically, Oakman also lost that game by a 2-1 score. Gannon Hall of Famer Larry Potash was the other Golden Knight to toss a no-no against Steubenville in 1968.
Godden allowed only one run during the top of the first inning. Tyler Donaldson drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Following a strikeout, Donaldson stole third base and scored on a sacrifice fly. Only two other Oilers reached base the rest of the game via a second-inning walk and seventh-inning error. In all, Godden retired 18 of the last 19 batters, including a stretch of 17 straight at one point.
Gannon threatened all game, but left 10 runners on base. Nine of those runners were stranded in scoring position, including at least one during all seven innings.
Taylor Anderson (Niagara Falls, Ontario/A.N. Myer Secondary) walked with one out to start a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Sean Sutton (Toronto, Ontario/Brebeuf College) followed with a single and both runners eventually stood at second and third base with two outs. But a pop-up to first base ended the threat and the game.
Godden suffered the loss despite allowing only one run during his first career appearance. The junior struck out eight and walked two. Sutton led the offensive unit with three hits in four at-bats.
The nightcap turned into another pitchers' dual. Ranta and A.J. Cecil threw zeroes at each other through the regulation seven innings. Gannon finally broke through against reliever Alex Williams during the top of the ninth inning.
Aaron Cox (Dorchester, N.J./Millville) delivered the big blow with a two-run, one-out single to right field. Ranta then tacked on an insurance run with a two-out RBI double.
After swinging the bat, Ranta went back to the mound and finished off a nine-inning shutout by setting Findlay down in order during the bottom of the frame. The junior scattered five hits, struck out six and walked none. In the batter's box, he finished 3-for-5 with an RBI. Both Cox and Anderson went 2-for-5 with a run.
Gannon moved to 2-6 with Wednesday's split, snapping a six-game losing streak. Findlay moved to 2-3. The Golden Knights will have their final off day of the spring trip tomorrow before returning to action Friday, March 7 against Northwood (Mich.). The Russ-Matt Invitational doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m.
