Gannon split its home series with No. 7 Seton Hill on April 17, 2021.

Baseball Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Home Opener vs. D'Youville Moved Up Two Days with Rain in the Forecast

D'YOUVILLE SAINTS (6-3) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (5-3)
DATE/TIME:  Thursday, March 17, 2022 I 12:00 noon
FACILITY/LOCATION:  McConnell Family Stadium I Erie, Pa.
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ERIE, Pa. – With plenty of rain forecast for Friday and Saturday, the Gannon baseball team has moved up its home opener against D'Youville two days. The two teams were scheduled to play doubleheaders at McConnell Family Stadium on Saturday and Sunday. However, with the less-than-promising forecast, they will now meet for a pair of games on Thursday, March 17. First pitch for the home opener is 12 noon, with the second seven-inning game to follow afterwards.
 
Head coach DJ Cannon looks to continue the momentum from the recent spring trip to Florida. The Golden Knights posted a 5-3 record, wrapping things up with a pair of impressive victories. They posted a 6-4 win over Ashland behind the pitching of Deven Judy (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon Area). On the final day, they pounded out seven home runs, part of a 16-hit attack, while handing Malone a 21-10 defeat. Malone had come in with a 7-0 record.
 
D'Youville, meanwhile, is off to a 6-3 start and has also won its last two games. The Saints also traveled to the Sunshine state for their spring trip. Gannon and D'Youville played two common opponents. While the Golden Knights defeated Malone while D'Youville dropped a 15-14 slugfest. Both lost to Minnesota State Mankato – Gannon 17-4 and D'Youville 9-4.
 
Gannon was tied for fourth in the PSAC coaches' preseason poll after finishing with an 18-17 record last spring. A strong pitching staff is led by Judy, a redshirt senior. The right-hander is an NCBWA preseason honorable mention All-Atlantic Region honoree and a two-time All-PSAC West performer. He enters the 2022 season ranked in the top 10 in school history in several career pitching categories, including tied for first in shutouts (5), second in strikeouts (242), tied for second in lowest opponent batting average (.241), third in career ERA (3.39), tied for fourth in victories (15), seventh in innings pitched (196.1) and tied for seventh in both saves (3) and complete games (11).
 
In 2021, Judy finished with 3-6 record but with a 3.27 ERA. In 55 innings, he allowed 51 hits and 13 walks while striking out 66. In 2019 he set the Gannon single-season record with 96 strikeouts. His eight victories were also the third-most in a single season for the Golden Knight program. Judy went 8-0 with a 2.49 ERA.
 
Two other All-PSAC West performers return. First baseman Ian Hess (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) was a second team selection in 2021 after pacing the Golden Knights with a .369 batting average. The redshirt junior hit three home runs and drove in 11 runs. He got off to a slow start in Florida with a .192 batting average, but did hit his 19th career home run, moving into second place all-time at Gannon. He hit 12 home runs in 2019, the second-highest season total.
 
Brandon Wetherholt (Gibsonia, Pa./Mars Area) was also accorded second team All-PSAC West honors after leading Gannon in numerous categories, including total bases (59), hits (36), runs scored (24), RBI (23), and home runs (5) while hitting .319.  Wetherholt is off to a .154 start but has a pair of home runs and 5 RBIs.
 
One player not off to a slow start is Ryan Kalbfus (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield). The third baseman is hitting is hitting .424 with 3 doubles, a triple, 4 home runs and 14 RBIs. The Golden Knights showed plenty of pop in Florida with 13 home runs.
 
After playing a pair of games on Thursday, Gannon and D'Youville hope to return to McConnell Family Stadium for a second doubleheader on Sunday, March 20, weather permitting. That twinbill would get underway at 12 noon.
 
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Players Mentioned

Ian Hess

#13 Ian Hess

INF
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
R/L
Deven Judy

#9 Deven Judy

RHP
5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
Ryan Kalbfus

#35 Ryan Kalbfus

INF
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Brandon Wetherholt

#10 Brandon Wetherholt

OF
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
L/R

Players Mentioned

Ian Hess

#13 Ian Hess

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
R/L
INF
Deven Judy

#9 Deven Judy

5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
RHP
Ryan Kalbfus

#35 Ryan Kalbfus

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
INF
Brandon Wetherholt

#10 Brandon Wetherholt

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
L/R
OF