Nico DiPaolo
Rhonda Jackson
Senior Nico DiPaolo got the final two outs with a runner on third base to preserve Monday's 5-4 victory.
4
Kentucky Wesleyan KWCBB 2-7
5
Winner Gannon University GAN 5-2
Kentucky Wesleyan KWCBB
2-7
4
Final
5
Gannon University GAN
5-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kentucky Wesleyan KWCBB 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 4 8 1
Gannon University GAN 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 0 X 5 11 2

W: Colosi, Joey (1-1) L: Jones, Mitchell (0-3) S: DiPaolo, Nico (1)

Next Game:

vs. Tiffin University (Ohio)

2/28/2017 | 11:00 AM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Feb. 28 (Tue) / 11:00 AM
vs. Tiffin University (Ohio)

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

Gannon Baseball Team Moves to 3-0 in Florida with 5-4 Victory Against Kentucky Wesleyan

THE RUNDOWN
  • Final Score: Gannon 5, Kentucky Wesleyan 4
  • Records: Gannon (5-2), Kentucky Wesleyan (2-7)
  • Location: Winter Haven, Fla. - Chain of Lakes Stadium (Russ-Matt Invitational)
  • The Short Story: The Gannon baseball team snapped a 2-2 tie with a three-run sixth inning and senior Nico DiPaolo (Bridgeville, Pa./Bishop Canevin) got two outs with a runner on third base in the top of the ninth inning as the Golden Knights held off Kentucky Wesleyan 5-4 Monday afternoon in a regularly-scheduled nine-inning game at the Russ-Matt Invitational in Winter Haven, Florida.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Gannon scored first, plating a single run during the bottom of the second inning. Junior Mike Colosi (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) led off with a double to right field, before scoring on consecutive singles by junior Cody Callaway (Elyria, Ohio/Midview) and senior Nick Restuccia (Ormond Beach, Fla./Father Lopez Catholic).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan tied the contest in the top of the fourth inning, but Gannon responded immediately during the bottom half to the frame. Colosi started the sequence again with a hit by pitch. He advanced to third base on a pair of wild pitches and scored the go-ahead run on junior Gregory Nicolia (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island)'s two-out, RBI single to center field.
  • The Panthers drew even at 2-2 with another run during the top of the fifth inning.
  • Gannon snapped the deadlock with a decisive three-run sixth inning, scoring all three runs with two outs.
  • Callaway and Restuccia reached with singles. Redshirt senior Anthony Grimone (Emporium, Pa./Cameron County) then put Gannon in front 3-2 with a double to left field. Junior Charles Benack (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) followed with a two-run single to right field for a 5-2 advantage.
  • Kentucky Wesleyan cut the deficit to 5-4 with a pair of runs during the top of the eighth inning.
  • The Panthers had a great opportunity to tie the game during the top of the ninth inning when Jacob Snodgrass reached with one out on a bunt single and raced to third on a throwing error. However, DiPaolo shut the door with a ground-out and strikeout to preserve a 5-4 victory.

GAME NOTES
  • Monday's contest was an originally-scheduled nine-inning game.
  • Restuccia highlighted the offense's performance, going 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
  • Callaway finished 2-for-4 with one run.
  • Benack drove home a team-high two runs.
  • Redshirt senior Aaron Jackson (Sugar Grove, Pa./Eisenhower) started on the mound, but received a no decision after allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings. He scattered six hits, struck out one and walked one.
  • Junior Joey Colosi (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) relieved Jackson in the sixth inning and picked up his first win of the season with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless work. He didn't allow a hit while striking out three and walking none.
  • DiPaolo tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings for his first save of the season, surrendering only a bunt single and striking out one.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon is ranked seventh 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.
  • Junior Kyle Cox (Dorchester, N.J./Millville) extended his hit streak to 11 games dating back to last season with a third-inning single.
  • Gannon and Kentucky Wesleyan faced each other for the first time 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.
  • Monday's decision was the Golden Knights' first victory against Kentucky Wesleyan since a 6-3 win on February 29, 2004 in Florida.
  • DiPaolo became the third Golden Knight since 2000 to record seven career saves, tying Landon Wahl (2011-12) and Ricky Hulsinger (2002-06).
  • Jackson moved into a tie with Matt Berkey (2002-05) for fourth place all-time at Gannon since 2000 with his 110th career strikeout.
  • Benack's two-run single in the sixth extended his hit streak to six games.
  • Restuccia produced his fourth multiple-hit game of the season and 15th of his career. He tied a career-high with three hits for the third time.
  • Benack recorded his second multiple-RBI game of the season and 12th of his career.
  • Callaway generated his third multiple-hit game of the campaign.
  • Gannon pounded out double-digit hits for the third consecutive game, representing the program's longest streak since having four straight contests March 25-April 1, 2016.
  • The Golden Knights reached double digits in hits for the fifth time during the season's first seven contests.
  • Gannon has scored first during six of seven games this season.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon continues its 10-game schedule at the Russ-Matt Invitational in Winter Haven, Florida on Tuesday, February 28 against Tiffin.
  • The single nine-inning game is scheduled for 11 a.m.
  • The two programs haven't meet since at least the 1999 season.
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Players Mentioned

Charles Benack

#4 Charles Benack

UTL
5' 11"
Junior
L/R
Joey Colosi

#34 Joey Colosi

P
6' 2"
Junior
L/L
Kyle Cox

#19 Kyle Cox

P/OF
6' 4"
Junior
R/R
Nico DiPaolo

#15 Nico DiPaolo

P
5' 11"
Senior
R/R
Anthony Grimone

#3 Anthony Grimone

OF
5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
Aaron Jackson

#28 Aaron Jackson

P
5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
L/R
Gregory Nicolia

#17 Gregory Nicolia

INF
6' 0"
Junior
L/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

Players Mentioned

Charles Benack

#4 Charles Benack

5' 11"
Junior
L/R
UTL
Joey Colosi

#34 Joey Colosi

6' 2"
Junior
L/L
P
Kyle Cox

#19 Kyle Cox

6' 4"
Junior
R/R
P/OF
Nico DiPaolo

#15 Nico DiPaolo

5' 11"
Senior
R/R
P
Anthony Grimone

#3 Anthony Grimone

5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
OF
Aaron Jackson

#28 Aaron Jackson

5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
L/R
P
Gregory Nicolia

#17 Gregory Nicolia

6' 0"
Junior
L/R
INF
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