Kieran Versaw-Barnes vs. UPJ
Bryce Dolak

Baseball Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Gannon Set to Play Four-Game Series vs. California (Pa.)

GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (7-11, 2-2 PSAC West) vs. CALIFORNIA (PA) VULCANS (9-8, 0-4 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME:  Saturday, April 1, 2023 (at Washington, Pa.) I 11:30 a.m. / Sunday, April 2, 2023 (at Erie, Pa.) I 1:00 p.m
NOTE: Saturday's games were moved up to avoid inclement weather..
BALLPARK/LOCATION:  Wild Things Park I Washington, Pa. / McConnell Family Stadium I Erie, Pa.
LIVE VIDEO (at Cal) I LIVE VIDEO (at Gannon)
LIVE STATS (at Cal) I LIVE STATS (at Gannon)

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon baseball team resumes play in the PSAC West on Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 with a four-game series against California (Pa.). The Vulcans host the first doubleheader at Wild Things Park in Washington, Pa. on Saturday, followed by a twinbill on Sunday at McConnell Family Stadium.

That is, weather permitting of course. The forecast for Saturday is for considerable rain in western Pennsylvania. Sunday looks to be cold but dry.
Gannon comes in with a 7-11 record and is 2-2 in the PSAC West. The Golden Knights split a pair of doubleheaders with Pitt-Johnstown last weekend, with the two losses by a run. Cal is 9-8 overall but 0-4 in league play after losing all four games last weekend to preseason favorite Seton Hill.

Both teams played mid-week non-conference games. Gannon dropped an 12-11 decision at Ashland on Tuesday, the fourth walk-off loss of the season. Cal, meanwhile, played on Wednesday and shut out Alderson-Broaddus 7-0. 

Gannon is the defending Western Division regular season champions after finishing at 20-8 in league play in 2022. First-year head coach DJ Cannon guided the Golden Knights to a 29-17 overall record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in school history. Gannon was picked third in the PSAC West preseason poll.

Jared Bielanin (Erie, Pa./McDowell) leads the Golden Knights with a .327 batting average. The junior has served as the designated hitter and also filled in at third base. He has three doubles, two triples and 15 RBIs. Miguel Vega (Florida, Puerto Rico/Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy) is next at .309 with a pair of home runs while leading the team in RBIs (18) and steals (12). Ian Hess (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) is at .309 with 4 HRs and 16 RBIs.

Cal showcases Santino Marra. The sophomore infielder is among the top hitters in the PSAC at .441 with six doubles, two triples and 17 RBIs. The Vulcans have a lineup with six hitters at .300 or better and are hitting .320 as a team.   

VEGA, HESS COME UP BIG AT ASHLAND
Miguel Vega (Florida, Puerto Rico/Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy) and Ian Hess (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) enjoyed big days at the plate on Tuesday at Ashland. They hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth, Vega's a three-run blast and Hess a solo shot. For Hess it was his team-leading fourth of the season and 33rd of his career, which is the school record.  Vega ended the day 1-for-3 with 4 RBIs plus a pair of walks. Hess had two hits in five at bats, driving in three runs. He now has 121 career RBIs to move into a tie for second all-time. Vega, meanwhile, has moved into ninth place in career stolen bases with 52.

HESS NAMED PSAC WEST ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Ian Hess (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) was named the PSAC West Baseball Athlete of the Week for the week ending March 26. It marks the first time this season and fourth time in his career that Hess has earned PSAC West Player of the Week honors. The first baseman from Canonsburg, Pa. played in five games last week, going 9-for-18 (.500) with five runs and eight RBIs. He had multiple hits in three of five games. Hess had a slugging percentage of 1.056 with two doubles, a triple and two home runs among his nine hits. He hit a three-run homer in game two on Friday vs. Pitt-Johnstown as Gannon rallied for a 6-5 win in 8 innings after trailing 5-0. He also had a two-run homer in the seventh inning of Sunday's first game at UPJ to give Gannon a 5-3 lead at the time.

VERSAW-BARNES IMPRESSIVE IN FIRST START
Kieran Versaw-Barnes (Elkins Park, Pa./Cheltenham) is one of two transfer pitchers form George Mason expected to play a key role on the mound this season. The redshirts sophomore saw just one inning of action in Florida, that coming in a relief appearance vs. Ashland. A right-hander, Versaw-Barnes made his first start against Pitt-Johnstown in game number one last Friday. He threw five shutout innings before allowing a leadoff hit in the sixth inning. He ended the game giving up five hits, one run, and striking out three. 
 
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Players Mentioned

Jared Bielanin

#12 Jared Bielanin

INF
6' 2"
Junior
R/R
Ian Hess

#13 Ian Hess

1B
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
R/L
Miguel Vega

#5 Miguel Vega

INF
5' 8"
Junior
L/R
Kieran Versaw-Barnes

#25 Kieran Versaw-Barnes

RHP
5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R

Players Mentioned

Jared Bielanin

#12 Jared Bielanin

6' 2"
Junior
R/R
INF
Ian Hess

#13 Ian Hess

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
R/L
1B
Miguel Vega

#5 Miguel Vega

5' 8"
Junior
L/R
INF
Kieran Versaw-Barnes

#25 Kieran Versaw-Barnes

5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
RHP