Charles Benack
Joe Mattis
Sophomore Charles Benack recorded three hits during Friday's doubleheader.
4
Gannon University GAN 21-9, 9-4 PSAC-W
9
Winner Mercyhurst MER 22-8, 10-3 PSAC-W
Gannon University GAN
21-9, 9-4 PSAC-W
4
Final
9
Mercyhurst MER
22-8, 10-3 PSAC-W
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Gannon University GAN 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 2 0
Mercyhurst MER 4 0 1 0 0 4 X 9 8 1

W: Colin McKee (6-1) L: Jackson, Aaron (4-2)

3
Gannon University GAN 21-10, 9-5 PSAC-W
10
Winner Mercyhurst MER 23-8, 11-3 PSAC-W
Gannon University GAN
21-10, 9-5 PSAC-W
3
Final
10
Mercyhurst MER
23-8, 11-3 PSAC-W
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Gannon University GAN 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 8 1
Mercyhurst MER 0 0 1 5 4 0 X 10 10 1

W: Cam Knott (6-1) L: Cricks, David (3-3) S: Matthew Jakolka (1)

Next Game:

Mercyhurst University

4/10/2016 | 11:00 AM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Apr. 10 (Sun) / 11:00 AM
 Mercyhurst University

Game Recap: Baseball | | Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Baseball Team Falls in Battle for First Place in PSAC West

THE RUNDOWN
  • Game One Score: at Mercyhurst 9, Gannon 4
  • Game Two Score: at Mercyhurst 10, Gannon 3
  • Records: Gannon (21-10, 9-5 PSAC West), Mercyhurst (23-8, 11-3 PSAC West)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst Baseball Field
  • The Short Story: The Mercyhurst baseball team overcame early 3-0 deficits during both games to sweep a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division doubleheader against Gannon Friday afternoon in a battle of first-place teams at the Mercyhurst baseball field.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE
  • Gannon jumped ahead 3-0 without the aid of a hit during its first at-bat. After a pair of walks, senior Jared Wiesen (Girard, Ohio/Liberty) scored the first run on a bunt by sophomore Charles Benack (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson).
  • Senior Chris Beer (Burlington, Ontario/M.M. Robinson) then scored from second base on a throwing error, before sophomore Kyle Cox's (Dorchester, N.J./Millville) sacrifice fly pushed Benack across the plate with the third run.
  • Mercyhurst immediately answered with four runs of its own during the bottom of the first inning. Two hit by pitches ignited the rally.
  • Gannon tied the contest at four in the third inning. Benack tripled to left center with one out and scored the tying run on a wild pitch.
  • Mercyhurst answered again during its next at-bat. Another hit by pitch started the inning that included Cameron Balego's RBI single.
  • The Lakers iced the victory with four insurance runs during the sixth. Two more hit by pitches during the four-run rally pushed the Mercyhurst total to five.
  • Mercyhurst starting pitcher Colin McKee retired the last 15 batters of the game. He didn't allow another hit after Benack's third-inning triple.

GAME NOTES - GAME ONE
  • Benack went 1-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.
  • Junior Nick Restuccia (Ormond Beach, Fla./Father Lopez Catholic) recorded Gannon's only other hit.
  • Redshirt junior Aaron Jackson (Sugar Grove, Pa./Eisenhower) suffered his second consecutive loss after opening the campaign with four straight wins.
  • Freshman Ty Phelps (Pomeroy, Ohio/Meigs) came out of the bullpen in the sixth to strike out the only batter he faced.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon is ranked eighth in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Atlantic Regional Poll.
  • Mercyhurst is tabbed fourth in the latest NCBWA Atlantic Regional Poll.
  • Gannon fell out of first place in the PSAC Western Division for the first time this season.
  • Benack scored multiple runs in a game for the fourth time in 2016.
  • The Golden Knights scored first for the 25th time in the opening 30 games.
  • Wiesen moved into a tie with Matt Brickman (2001-03) for second place all-time at Gannon with his 115th career run.

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO
  • As it did in game one, Gannon raced out to a 3-0 lead. The first one came via a two-out rally during the top of the second inning. Beer drew a two-out walk and scored on a double to right center by redshirt freshman John Davis (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley).
  • Gannon extended its lead to 3-0 in the third. Three consecutive singles loaded the bases with one out, before sophomore Matt Oruch (Blue Bell, Pa./Wissahickon) worked a bases-loaded walk. Restuccia followed with an RBI ground-out. 
  • Mercyhurst roared back at that point. The Lakers scored once in the third and forged ahead with five runs in the fourth. The home squad then added four insurance runs in the fifth to account for the final 10-3 score.

GAME NOTES - GAME TWO
  • Benack went 2-for-2 with two walks and one run.
  • Six Golden Knights recorded one hit each.
  • Freshman Nick Fuchs (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) hurled two scoreless frames out of the pen, striking out two while allowing only one hit.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon is ranked eighth in the latest NCBWA Atlantic Regional Poll while Mercyhurst is tabbed fourth.
  • California (Pa.), Mercyhurst and Gannon entered the day tied for first place in the PSAC West. The Golden Knights fell to fourth place after Friday sweeps by Mercyhurst, California (Pa.) and Seton Hill.
  • Mercyhurst has won 12 consecutive overall games against Gannon and nine straight at home.
  • Benack recorded his seventh multiple-hit effort of the season, extending his hit streak to three games.
  • The Golden Knights scored first for the 26th time in 31 games.
  • Gannon's 240 runs through 31 games are already more than the season totals of the 2007-2015 campaigns.

UP NEXT
  • After an off day, Gannon and Mercyhurst conclude their four-game series Sunday, April 10 at McConnell Family Stadium.
  • The twinbill is scheduled for 11 a.m. to accommodate the Gannon-Bloomsburg women's lacrosse match scheduled for 5 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Charles Benack

#4 Charles Benack

UTL
5' 10"
Sophomore
L/R
Kyle Cox

#19 Kyle Cox

P/OF
6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
John Davis

#32 John Davis

C
6' 0"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
Aaron Jackson

#28 Aaron Jackson

P
5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
L/R
Matt Oruch

#10 Matt Oruch

OF
6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
Nick Restuccia

#14 Nick Restuccia

INF
6' 0"
Junior
R/R
Jared Wiesen

#20 Jared Wiesen

UTL
5' 11"
Senior
R/R
Chris Beer

#18 Chris Beer

INF
6' 0"
Senior
R/R
Nick Fuchs

#24 Nick Fuchs

P
6' 2"
Freshman
R/R
Ty Phelps

#21 Ty Phelps

P
6' 0"
Freshman
L/L

Players Mentioned

Charles Benack

#4 Charles Benack

5' 10"
Sophomore
L/R
UTL
Kyle Cox

#19 Kyle Cox

6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
P/OF
John Davis

#32 John Davis

6' 0"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
C
Aaron Jackson

#28 Aaron Jackson

5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
L/R
P
Matt Oruch

#10 Matt Oruch

6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
OF
Nick Restuccia

#14 Nick Restuccia

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
INF
Jared Wiesen

#20 Jared Wiesen

5' 11"
Senior
R/R
UTL
Chris Beer

#18 Chris Beer

6' 0"
Senior
R/R
INF
Nick Fuchs

#24 Nick Fuchs

6' 2"
Freshman
R/R
P
Ty Phelps

#21 Ty Phelps

6' 0"
Freshman
L/L
P