Charles Benack
Joe Mattis
Junior Charles Benack ignited the Gannon offense Tuesday afternoon with a 3-for-4 showing and three runs out of the lead-off spot.
8
Winner Gannon University GAN 6-2
6
Tiffin TU 4-5
Winner
Gannon University GAN
6-2
8
Final
6
Tiffin TU
4-5
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Gannon University GAN 0 0 0 1 3 3 0 1 0 8 12 4
Tiffin TU 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 6 6 2

W: Morrison, Jarod (1-0) L: M. Boswell (0-1) S: DiPaolo, Nico (2)

Next Game:

vs. Tiffin University (Ohio)

3/2/2017 | 11:45 AM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Mar. 02 (Thu) / 11:45 AM
vs. Tiffin University (Ohio)

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

Gannon Baseball Team Remains Perfect in Florida with 8-6 Come-From-Behind Win Against Tiffin

THE RUNDOWN
  • Final Score: Gannon 8, Tiffin 6
  • Records: Gannon (6-2), Tiffin (4-5)
  • Location: Winter Haven, Fla. - Lake Myrtle Stadium (Russ-Matt Invitational)
  • The Short Story: The Gannon baseball team rallied from an early 4-0 deficit with seven consecutive runs in the middle innings and remained perfect during its Florida trip Tuesday afternoon with an 8-6 victory against Tiffin at the Russ-Matt Invitational.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Tiffin pulled a page out of Gannon's book by scoring first. The Dragons erupted for three runs during the bottom of the first inning, before adding another run in the second inning for a 4-0 lead.
  • Gannon dented the scoreboard for the first time during the top of the fourth inning. Junior Gregory Nicolia (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) led off with a single. Junior Matt Oruch (Blue Bell, Pa./Wissahickon) replaced Nicolia on the base paths after a fielder's choice and moved to second base on a wild pitch. He then came around to score on back-to-back singles from juniors Kyle Cox (Dorchester, N.J./Millville) and Mike Colosi (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls).
  • The Golden Knights tied the contest at four with a three-run fifth inning. The squad loaded the bases with one out on a pair of singles by senior Andrew Wagner (Akron, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and junior Charles Benack (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) followed by a walk to Nicolia. The first run of the inning came across with the aid of a wild pitch, before an RBI ground-out by Oruch cut the deficit to 4-3. Cox forged the tie with a two-out RBI single to right field.
  • Gannon's offense continued to roll during its next at-bat, adding three more runs during the top of the sixth inning to assume its first lead of the afternoon at 7-4.
  • Freshman Elijah Quiceno (Berryville, Va./Stonebridge) started the rally with his first career home run to left field. The next two runs crossed the plate later in the inning on Nicolia's RBI single to right field and a suicide squeeze bunt by Oruch.
  • Tiffin finally stopped the bleeding with a single run during the bottom of the sixth inning, but Gannon countered with one of its own during the top of the eighth inning. With a runner on first and two outs, the Dragons forced a swinging strike three on a ball in the dirt. However, the catcher's throw to first was off the mark. The first basemen then had an errand throw to third trying to throw out Benack, who scored on the second error of the play.
  • The Dragons produced one more run with a homer during the bottom of the ninth inning, before senior Nico DiPaolo (Bridgeville, Pa./Bishop Canevin) closed the door for his second save of the season.

GAME NOTES
  • Tuesday's contest was an originally-scheduled nine-inning game.
  • Seven of Gannon's starting nine recorded a hit, including four with multiple safeties.
  • Benack topped the offensive onslaught with a 3-for-4 showing and three runs.
  • Wagner finished 2-for-4 with two runs out of the ninth spot.
  • Nicolia and Cox chipped in two hits each.
  • Oruch had a pair of RBIs and scored a run.
  • Sophomore Jarod Morrison (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) made his first career start on the mound, picking up his first career victory in the process. He allowing five runs, but only three were earned. Morrison scattered five hits over 5 1/3 innings, striking out five and walking four.
  • Freshman Brandon Weber (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) tossed two scoreless relief innings during his second career outing. 
  • DiPaolo came into the game during the bottom of the eighth inning with two runners on, but immediately induced an inning-ending double play. He logged the final 1 2/3 innings to earn his second save of the season.

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 12 games dating back to last season with a fourth-inning single.
  • Gannon and Tiffin were meeting for the first time since at least the 1999 campaign.
  • DiPaolo became Gannon's all-time saves leader since 2000 with eight, breaking a tie with Landon Wahl (2011-12) and Ricky Hulsinger (2002-06).
  • Benack's lead-off single extended his hit streak to seven games.
  • Gannon pounded out double-digit hits for the fourth consecutive game, representing the program's longest streak since having four straight contests March 25-April 1, 2016.
  • Benack scored a career-high three runs for the second time in his career.
  • Oruch recorded his first multiple-RBI game of the season and 12th of his career.
  • Cox moved into a tie with senior Nick Restuccia (Ormond Beach, Fla./Father Lopez Catholic) for the team lead in multiple-hit games with four.
  • The Golden Knights reached double digits in hits for the sixth time during the campaign's first eight contests.
  • Gannon is off to a 6-2 start for the second consecutive season.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon receives its first off day of the week on Wednesday.
  • The Golden Knights continue their 10-game schedule at the Russ-Matt Invitational in Winter Haven, Florida on Thursday, March 2 against Tiffin.
  • The doubleheader is scheduled for 11:45 a.m.
  • The two contests will conclude a three-game stretch between the two programs after not meeting since at least the 1999 season.
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Charles Benack

#4 Charles Benack

UTL
5' 11"
Junior
L/R
Kyle Cox

#19 Kyle Cox

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

#15 Nico DiPaolo

P
5' 11"
Senior
R/R
Jarod Morrison

#1 Jarod Morrison

P
6' 3"
Sophomore
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
Andrew Wagner

#33 Andrew Wagner

OF
6' 3"
Senior
L/R
Mike Colosi

#2 Mike Colosi

INF/P
5' 10"
Junior
R/R
Elijah Quiceno

#31 Elijah Quiceno

C
5' 10"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Charles Benack

#4 Charles Benack

5' 11"
Junior
L/R
UTL
Kyle Cox

#19 Kyle Cox

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

#15 Nico DiPaolo

5' 11"
Senior
R/R
P
Jarod Morrison

#1 Jarod Morrison

6' 3"
Sophomore
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
Andrew Wagner

#33 Andrew Wagner

6' 3"
Senior
L/R
OF
Mike Colosi

#2 Mike Colosi

5' 10"
Junior
R/R
INF/P
Elijah Quiceno

#31 Elijah Quiceno

5' 10"
Freshman
R/R
C