Santiago Mendez
Joe Mattis
Senior Santiago Mendez took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, before finishing a complete-game one-hitter.
15
Winner Gannon University GAN 3-2
2
Wheeling Jesuit WJU 0-1
Winner
Gannon University GAN
3-2
15
Final
2
Wheeling Jesuit WJU
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Gannon University GAN 1 0 2 0 3 5 4 15 17 2
Wheeling Jesuit WJU 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 1 3

W: Mendez, Santiago (1-0) L: Dillon Sunnafrank (0-1)

2
Wheeling Jesuit WJU 0-2
3
Winner Gannon University GAN 4-2
Wheeling Jesuit WJU
0-2
2
Final
3
Gannon University GAN
4-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Wheeling Jesuit WJU 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 5 1
Gannon University GAN 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 3 10 0

W: Cricks, David (2-0) L: Josh Bell (0-1)

Next Game:

vs. Kentucky Wesleyan College

2/27/2017 | 2:30 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Feb. 27 (Mon) / 2:30 PM
vs. Kentucky Wesleyan College

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

Gannon Baseball Team Opens Florida Trip with Sweep of Regional Foe Wheeling Jesuit

THE RUNDOWN
  • Game One Score: Gannon 15, Wheeling Jesuit 2
  • Game Two Score: Gannon 3, Wheeling Jesuit 2
  • Records: Gannon (4-2),  Wheeling Jesuit (0-2)
  • Location: Winter Haven, Fla. - Lake Myrtle #6 (Russ-Matt Invitational)
  • The Short Story: Junior Mike Colosi (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls)'s walk-off double combined with a pair of complete-game performances from senior Santiago Mendez (Potterville, Mich./Lansing Eastern) and junior David Cricks (Gibsonia, Pa./Hampton) propelled the Gannon baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of Wheeling Jesuit Sunday afternoon at the Russ-Matt Invitational in Winter Haven, Florida. The Golden Knights posted the sweep during their first day in Florida by scores of 15-2 and 3-2.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE
  • Gannon struck first with a single run during its initial at-bat. Junior Charles Benack (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) drew a lead-off walk, advanced to second on a ground-out and scored on redshirt sophomore Nate Cardy (Franklin, Pa./Franklin)'s RBI double to center field.
  • The Golden Knights extended their lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs during the top of the third inning. Cardy singled to left field and came around to score on junior Kyle Cox (Dorchester, N.J./Millville)'s double to center field. Two batters later, senior Nick Restuccia (Ormond Beach, Fla./Father Lopez Catholic) made it a 3-0 lead with a two-out, RBI single to left field.
  • Wheeling Jesuit got on the board without the aid of a hit during the bottom of the third inning. The run scored due to a walk, error, stolen base and ground-out.
  • Gannon answered with three runs in the fifth and five more in the six to put the game out of reach.
  • Colosi had an RBI single and junior Gregory Nicolia (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) added a two-out, two-run base hit to increase Gannon's lead to 6-1 during the fifth inning.
  • The Golden Knights then tacked on five more runs on five hits during the top of the sixth inning to assume an 11-1 advantage. Colosi started the blitz with an RBI double. Freshman Austin O'Shei (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg) and Benack followed with hits that plated two runs each.
  • Wheeling Jesuit scored its second run during the bottom of the frame while breaking up Mendez's no-hit bid that lasted five innings.
  • Gannon completed the scoring with another four runs during the top of the seventh inning. Cox and Restuccia drove in the first two with RBI singles. Redshirt senior Anthony Grimone (Emporium, Pa./Cameron County) pinch hit with the bases loaded and pushed a run across with a hit by pitch, before a Nicolia sacrifice fly capped the scoring.

GAME NOTES - GAME ONE
  • All nine starters recorded a hit, including eight with multiple hits.
  • Cardy, Cox and Nicolia finished with three hits each.
  • Cox went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.
  • Nicolia had three hits in four at-bats, driving in three runs.
  • Cardy finished 3-for-5 with two runs and one RBI.
  • Colosi and junior Cody Callaway (Elyria, Ohio/Midview) scored three runs apiece.
  • Mendez tossed a one-hit complete game, striking out four and walking three. Only one of his two runs allowed was earned.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon is ranked 10th in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) 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.
  • Mendez tossed his fourth career complete game during two seasons as a Golden Knight.
  • Cox recorded at least three hits in a game for the 12th time in his career.
  • Cardy had at least three hits for the ninth time during the last two seasons.
  • Mendez became the 13th Golden Knight to earn eight career victories since the 2000 campaign. 
  • Nicolia had at least three RBIs in a game for the third time during his career.
  • Both Colosi and Callaway scored a season-high three runs.
  • Gannon scored during its first at-bat for the fourth time during the first five games.
  • The Golden Knights' 15 runs and 19 hits represented their most since scoring 17 runs on 19 hits during a 17-5 victory at Clarion on April 23, 2016.

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO
  • After a pair of scoreless innings, Gannon assumed a 1-0 lead during the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore Ian Steighner (Chicora, Pa./Butler) led off with a single to right field, advanced to second base on Benack's sacrifice bunt and scored on junior Matt Oruch (Blue Bell, Pa./Wissahickon)'s RBI single to center field.
  • Wheeling Jesuit grabbed its first lead of the afternoon during the top of the sixth inning after Logan Schickler hit a two-run homer to right field with one out.
  • Gannon waited until the bottom of the seventh inning to answer. Benack led off with a double to center field and scored the tying run one out later on Cardy's double to right field. After Cox was intentionally walked, Colosi produced a walk-off double for a 3-2 victory.

GAME NOTES - GAME TWO
  • Seven of Gannon's nine starters recorded a hit.
  • Cardy finished 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
  • Colosi and freshman Elijah Quiceno (Berryville, Va./Stonebridge) added two hits each.
  • Junior David Cricks (Gibsonia, Pa./Hampton) improved to 2-0 with a five-hit, complete-game performance. He allowed two runs, striking out four and walking none.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon is ranked 10th in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) 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 completed a doubleheader sweep of Wheeling Jesuit at the Russ-Matt Invitational for the third consecutive year.
  • The Golden Knights have scored 46 runs during four combined games against the Cardinals in 2016 and 2017.
  • Cox and Oruch extended their hit streaks to 10 and nine games, respectively, dating back to last season.
  • Cricks became the seventh Golden Knight since 2000 to win nine games during his career.
  • Cardy recorded his third multiple-hit game of the season and 24th of his two-year collegiate career.
  • Colosi produced his third multiple-hit game of the campaign.
  • Quiceno had his first career multiple-hit game during his fourth career start.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon continues its 10-game schedule at the Russ-Matt Invitational in Winter Haven, Florida on Monday, February 27 against Kentucky Wesleyan.
  • The single nine-inning game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
  • Gannon and Kentucky Wesleyan haven't met since March 4, 2008 when the Panthers swept a doubleheader at the Gene Cusic Tournament in Fort Myers, Florida by scores of 6-5 and 9-7.
  • The Golden Knights' last victory against Kentucky Wesleyan was a 6-3 verdict on February 29, 2004 in Florida.
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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
Kyle Cox

#19 Kyle Cox

P/OF
6' 4"
Junior
R/R
David Cricks

#12 David Cricks

P
5' 10"
Junior
R/R
Anthony Grimone

#3 Anthony Grimone

OF
5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
Santiago Mendez

#27 Santiago Mendez

P
6' 2"
Senior
R/R
Gregory Nicolia

#17 Gregory Nicolia

INF
6' 0"
Junior
L/R
Matt Oruch

#10 Matt Oruch

OF
6' 0"
Junior
R/R
Nick Restuccia

#11 Nick Restuccia

INF
6' 1"
Senior
R/R
Ian Steighner

#14 Ian Steighner

INF
5' 6"
Sophomore
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
Kyle Cox

#19 Kyle Cox

6' 4"
Junior
R/R
P/OF
David Cricks

#12 David Cricks

5' 10"
Junior
R/R
P
Anthony Grimone

#3 Anthony Grimone

5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
OF
Santiago Mendez

#27 Santiago Mendez

6' 2"
Senior
R/R
P
Gregory Nicolia

#17 Gregory Nicolia

6' 0"
Junior
L/R
INF
Matt Oruch

#10 Matt Oruch

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
OF
Nick Restuccia

#11 Nick Restuccia

6' 1"
Senior
R/R
INF
Ian Steighner

#14 Ian Steighner

5' 6"
Sophomore
R/R
INF