2018, Base, Steighner
Ian Steighner delivered the game-winning base hit in extra innings of game two, giving Gannon the win, 4-3.

Baseball Levi Rex, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Gannon Baseball Clinches PSAC Tournament Berth with Extra-Innings Victory at Slippery Rock

THE RUNDOWN
  • Game One Score: at Slippery Rock 2, Gannon 1
  • Game Two Score: Gannon 4, at Slippery Rock 3 (8 innings)
  • Records: Gannon (29-16, 16-10 PSAC West), Slippery Rock (29-15, 19-7 PSAC West)
  • Location: Butler, Pa. – Pullman Park
  • The Short Story: The Gannon Baseball team clinched a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament berth with a victory in game two against Slippery Rock on Friday. Ian Steighner (Chicora, Pa./Butler) hit the go-ahead RBI-single in the top of the eighth for the deciding run in game two.
     
GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE
  • Gannon and Slippery Rock began the final series of the season on Friday at Pullman Park in Butler, Pa.
  • The key Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) series opened up as a pitching duel with Deven Judy (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon Area) getting the nod in game one for Gannon and Alex Pantuso taking the hill for Slippery Rock.
  • Neither team could push a run across in the first two innings.  
  • In the bottom of the third inning, Slippery Rock played long ball as Tyler Walters yanked 2-1 offering out to left field. Slippery Rock led 2-0.
  • Gannon made a charge in the sixth inning. Mike Colosi (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls), Charles Benack (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) and Nate Cardy (Franklin, Pa./Franklin) each walked to load the bases.
  • Slippery Rock made the first out of the inning on a fielder's choice at home plate. Gannon kept the bases loaded, however, with one out.
  • A Slippery Rock wild pitch allowed the Benack to run home and Gannon drew within one, 2-1.
  • GU couldn't get another run across the plate, stranding the bases loaded.
  • Gannon couldn't get the tying run around in the seventh, leaving Cody Callaway (Elyria, Ohio/Midview) on the base paths as the Golden Knights fell, 2-1.
     
GAME NOTES - GAME ONE
  • Benack recorded Gannon's lone hit and run.
  • Judy pitched six innings of six-hit, two-run baseball. He also struck out seven and walked one.
  • Gannon drew six walks compared to just one from Slippery Rock.
     
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • It's Gannon's fifth one-run defeat of the season as the Golden Knights are just 1-5 in those games.
  • Gannon needs just one victory to secure a PSAC tournament bid.
     
HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO
  • Gannon struck first in game one. Benack drew a one-out walk and Cardy doubled him home for the first Golden Knight run of the game.
  • Slippery Rock tied it up in the bottom of the inning, as three singles produced a Rock run.
  • The Golden Knights made some more noise in the third inning. Benack led off the inning with a single, followed by two more singles from Cardy and Kyle Cox (Dorchester, N.J./Millville) to load the bases.
  • Dominic Mori (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area) kept the train moving with an RBI-single to plate Benack. Matt Oruch (Blue Bell, Pa./Wissahickon) stepped to plate and lashed the Golden Knights' fifth single of the inning to give Gannon a 3-1 lead.
  • The lead wouldn't last, though. Slippery Rock tallied runs in the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings to tie up the game at three.
  • The game went extra innings and Gannon had first crack at scoring. Elijah Quiceno (Berryville, Va./Stonebridge) began the inning with a single and Joey DiBridge (Irwin, Pa./Hempfield Area) pinch ran.
  • Mori reached with a fielding error and Callaway loaded the bases with a walk. Ian Steighner (Chicora, Pa./Butler) delivered the go-ahead base hit that scored DiBridge.
  • Cory Hegedus (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) pitched the final inning and sealed the 4-3 victory for Gannon.

 
GAME NOTES - GAME TWO
  • Cardy went 3-for-4 in the game with a double and RBI.
  • Cox also registered two hits for the Golden Knights, also scoring a run.
  • Steighner was 3-for-4 from the dish, including the game-winning RBI.
     
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon is ranked seventh in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic regional rankings. Slippery Rock is slotted sixth in the same rankings.
  • The Golden Knights clinched a spot in the PSAC tournament, beginning May 9 in Johnstown, Pa.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon returns home for its final regular-season doubleheader of the season, Saturday, May 5.
  • The twinbill is scheduled for 1 p.m.
  • The Golden Knights will also honor 14 seniors on Senior Day between games.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Charles Benack

#4 Charles Benack

UTL
5' 11"
Senior
L/R
Cody Callaway

#18 Cody Callaway

INF
6' 2"
Senior
R/R
Nate Cardy

#35 Nate Cardy

C
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Mike Colosi

#2 Mike Colosi

INF/P
5' 10"
Senior
R/R
Kyle Cox

#19 Kyle Cox

OF/P
6' 4"
Senior
R/R
Joey DiBridge

#16 Joey DiBridge

INF
5' 11"
Senior
R/R
Cory Hegedus

#20 Cory Hegedus

P
6' 0"
Junior
R/R
Dominic Mori

#26 Dominic Mori

INF
6' 0"
Junior
R/R
Matt Oruch

#10 Matt Oruch

OF
6' 0"
Senior
R/R
Elijah Quiceno

#31 Elijah Quiceno

C
5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R

Players Mentioned

Charles Benack

#4 Charles Benack

5' 11"
Senior
L/R
UTL
Cody Callaway

#18 Cody Callaway

6' 2"
Senior
R/R
INF
Nate Cardy

#35 Nate Cardy

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
C
Mike Colosi

#2 Mike Colosi

5' 10"
Senior
R/R
INF/P
Kyle Cox

#19 Kyle Cox

6' 4"
Senior
R/R
OF/P
Joey DiBridge

#16 Joey DiBridge

5' 11"
Senior
R/R
INF
Cory Hegedus

#20 Cory Hegedus

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
P
Dominic Mori

#26 Dominic Mori

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
INF
Matt Oruch

#10 Matt Oruch

6' 0"
Senior
R/R
OF
Elijah Quiceno

#31 Elijah Quiceno

5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
C