Aaron Jackson
Joe Mattis
Redshirt senior Aaron Jackson struck out a career-high 11 hitters while tossing his 15th career complete game during the opener.
5
Winner Gannon GAN 2-1
4
LIU Post LIUPB 0-1
Winner
Gannon GAN
2-1
5
Final
4
LIU Post LIUPB
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Gannon GAN 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 5 10 0
LIU Post LIUPB 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 4 7 1

W: Jackson, Aaron (1-0) L: Jagiello, Dan (0-1)

9
Winner LIU Post LIUPB 1-1
2
Gannon GAN 2-2
Winner
LIU Post LIUPB
1-1
9
Final
2
Gannon GAN
2-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
LIU Post LIUPB 2 0 3 2 0 2 0 9 12 2
Gannon GAN 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 7 2

W: Lorenzo, Noah (1-0) L: Colosi, Joey (0-1)

Next Game:

vs. Wheeling Jesuit University

2/26/2017 | 12:15 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Feb. 26 (Sun) / 12:15 PM
vs. Wheeling Jesuit University

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

Gannon Baseball Team Finishes Opening Weekend with Split Against LIU Post

THE RUNDOWN
  • Game One Score: Gannon 5, LIU Post (N.Y.) 4
  • Game Two Score: LIU Post (N.Y.) 9, Gannon 2
  • Records: Gannon (2-2),  LIU Post (N.Y.) (1-1)
  • Location: Gaffney, S.C. - Founders FCU Stadium (Limestone College)
  • The Short Story: A two-out RBI single by junior Cody Callaway (Elyria, Ohio/Midview) and complete-game, 11-strikeout performance by redshirt senior Aaron Jackson (Sugar Grove, Pa./Eisenhower) enabled the Gannon baseball team to earn a doubleheader split Saturday afternoon against LIU Post at Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina. The Golden Knights posted a 5-4 victory during the opener, before falling 9-2 in the nightcap.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE
  • Gannon started fast with multiple runs in the first inning for the third consecutive game. The Golden Knights tallied three runs on five hits. The squad loaded the bases with consecutive singles by its first three hitters - junior Charles Benack (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson), junior Matt Oruch (Blue Bell, Pa./Wissahickon) and redshirt sophomore Nate Cardy (Franklin, Pa./Franklin).
  • Junior Kyle Cox (Dorchester, N.J./Millville) added a fourth straight single to drive in the contest's first run. A second run crossed the plate on a double play, before senior Nick Restuccia (Ormond Beach, Fla./Father Lopez Catholic) came through with a two-out RBI single to right field.
  • Gannon extended its lead to 4-0 with a single run during the top of the fifth inning. Cardy reached on an error, moved to second on a ground-out and scored on junior Mike Colosi (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls)'s single to right field.
  • LIU Post rallied during the bottom of the frame with four two-out runs to tie the game. The Pioneers pulled even on clean-up hitter Anthony Vaglica's bases-clearing triple. Jackson then struck out Kenny Daley looking to preserve the tie.
  • The game remained tied until the seventh inning. Cox ripped a one-out triple to center field. Callaway came through with a two-out single to left center moments later, giving the Golden Knights a 5-4 lead.
  • Jackson recorded two quick outs during the bottom of the seventh inning, before allowing a single up the middle. He then finished the complete game by inducing a grounder back to the mound that put the final touches on a 5-4 win.

GAME NOTES - GAME ONE
  • Gannon's top eight hitters in the line-up recorded a hit.
  • Both Cox and Restuccia went 2-for-4 with one RBI. Cox also scored a run.
  • Cardy finished 1-for-4 with two runs.
  • Jackson went the distance on the mound, allowing only the four fifth-inning runs. He surrendered seven hits, struck out a career-high 11 and walked one.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon is ranked ninth in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason Atlantic Regional Poll.
  • The Golden Knights were predicted to finish third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division according to the league's preseason coaches poll.
  • Jackson recorded his 15th career complete game.
  • Cox's eighth career triple pushed him into a tie with Eric Harpster (2006-09) for fourth place all-time at Gannon.
  • Jackson earned his 11th career victory, tying Greg Radwan (2007-10) and Matt Tobin (2012-15) for third place all-time at Gannon since 2000.
  • Restuccia recorded his second multiple-hit game of the season and 13th of his career.
  • Jackson became the seventh Golden Knight since 2000 to record 100 career strikeouts. He now has 109 strikeouts, moving into Gannon's all-time top five since 2000.
  • Cox produced his second multiple-hit game of the season and 32nd of his career.
  • Jackson is the first Gannon pitcher to punch out 11 hitters in a game since current Anaheim Angels' farmhand Aaron Cox struck out 13 during a 12-4 victory against Clarion at McConnell Family Stadium on April 11, 2015.
  • Gannon scored at least three runs during its first at-bat in three consecutive games for the first time since at least the 1999 season.

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO
  • LIU Post took control early with two runs during the top of the first inning.
  • The Pioneers extended their lead to 7-0 with three runs during the third inning and two more in the fourth.
  • Gannon got on the board during the bottom of the fifth inning. Freshman Austin O'Shei (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg) led off with a triple to right field and scored on a throwing error by the right fielder.
  • LIU Post tacked on two more runs during the sixth inning to increase its lead to 9-1.
  • Gannon completed the scoring with a single run during its last at-bat. O'Shei singled to right field and moved to second base on a throwing error. He then scored on Oruch's two-out, RBI single up the middle.

GAME NOTES - GAME TWO
  • Three Golden Knights accounted for all seven hits.
  • Oruch went 4-for-4 with one RBI out of the lead-off spot.
  • O'Shei finished 2-for-3 with two runs.
  • Junior Joey Colosi (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) started on the mound, allowing two earned runs through three innings. He struck out two and walked none.
  • Freshman Brandon Weber (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) tossed a scoreless seventh inning during his collegiate debut.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon is ranked ninth in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason Atlantic Regional Poll.
  • The Golden Knights were predicted to finish third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division according to the league's preseason coaches poll.
  • Gannon finished its season-opening weekend in Gaffney, South Carolina with a pair of doubleheader splits.
  • Cox and Oruch extended their hit streaks to eight and seven games, respectively, dating back to last season.
  • Oruch recorded the second four-hit game of his career.
  • O'Shei produced a multi-hit game while recording his first two career hits during his second career start.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon returns south next weekend during its annual spring break trip, playing 10 games at the Russ-Matt Invitational in Winter Haven, Florida.
  • The week-long trip begins Sunday, February 26 with a doubleheader against Wheeling Jesuit.
  • The twinbill is scheduled for 12:15 p.m.
  • Gannon swept doubleheaders from Wheeling Jesuit at the last two Russ-Matt Invitationals.
  • The Golden Knights erupted for 28 runs during last year's sweep that resulted in victories by scores 11-10 and 17-1. The squad overcame a 10-1 deficit with a 10-run third inning during the opener.
  • Gannon earned wins of 6-2 and 6-0 during the 2015 invitational.
  • Prior to the last two years, the two programs had not played each other since 2007.
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Players Mentioned

Charles Benack

#4 Charles Benack

UTL
5' 11"
Junior
L/R
Nate Cardy

#35 Nate Cardy

C
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
Joey Colosi

#34 Joey Colosi

P
6' 2"
Junior
L/L
Kyle Cox

#19 Kyle Cox

P/OF
6' 4"
Junior
R/R
Aaron Jackson

#28 Aaron Jackson

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

#10 Matt Oruch

OF
6' 0"
Junior
R/R
Nick Restuccia

#11 Nick Restuccia

INF
6' 1"
Senior
R/R
Cody Callaway

#18 Cody Callaway

INF
6' 2"
Junior
R/R
Mike Colosi

#2 Mike Colosi

INF/P
5' 10"
Junior
R/R
Austin O

#8 Austin O'Shei

C/INF
5' 10"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Charles Benack

#4 Charles Benack

5' 11"
Junior
L/R
UTL
Nate Cardy

#35 Nate Cardy

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
C
Joey Colosi

#34 Joey Colosi

6' 2"
Junior
L/L
P
Kyle Cox

#19 Kyle Cox

6' 4"
Junior
R/R
P/OF
Aaron Jackson

#28 Aaron Jackson

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

#10 Matt Oruch

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
OF
Nick Restuccia

#11 Nick Restuccia

6' 1"
Senior
R/R
INF
Cody Callaway

#18 Cody Callaway

6' 2"
Junior
R/R
INF
Mike Colosi

#2 Mike Colosi

5' 10"
Junior
R/R
INF/P
Austin O

#8 Austin O'Shei

5' 10"
Freshman
R/R
C/INF