Miguel Vega vs. Tiffin
Mike Gallagher
6
Gannon GAN-B 17-26, 11-16 PSAC
7
Winner Indiana (Pa.) IUP-B 23-27, 15-12 PSAC
Gannon GAN-B
17-26, 11-16 PSAC
6
Final
7
Indiana (Pa.) IUP-B
23-27, 15-12 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Gannon GAN-B 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 2 6 10 2
Indiana (Pa.) IUP-B 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 7 8 0

W: W. Westerndo (2-0) L: Boyer, Jaret (2-4)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Golden Knights Drop Season Finale at IUP 7-6

INDIANA, Pa. – The Gannon baseball team concluded the 2023 season on Saturday at Indiana (Pa.) with a 7-6 loss to the Crimson Hawks in a nine-inning game. The loss was preceded by a California (Pa.) win over Clarion in extra innings, officially eliminating the Golden Knights from the PSAC Tournament.

Originally scheduled as a doubleheader, the PSAC announced sanctions against IUP earlier in the week for exceeding the maximum allowable contests so Gannon received a forfeit win in the second game leaving the Golden Knights at 12-16 in PSAC West play.

Gannon ended the year with a 17-26 overall record, with Saturday's setback the seventh to come in walk-off fashion.

Thanks to a strong showing by freshman Jacob Engel (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) the Golden Knights held a 4-1 lead after five innings. Five relief pitchers followed in an attempt to hold off the Crimson Hawks, and Gannon took a two-run lead in the top of ninth with a pair of runs to make it 6-4. Cam Vozel opened the inning with a single and scored when Miguel Vega (Florida, Puerto Rico/Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy) hit his sixth home run of the season to right field. Ian Hess (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) was hit by a pitch and Jared Bielanin (Erie, Pa./McDowell) doubles, but both were stranded.

IUP would push across three runs in the bottom of the inning. The inning began with a pair of walks and Peyton Johnson tied the game with a two-run double. Jaret Boyer (New Wilmington, Pa./Wilmington) came in in relief for the second straight day and retired the next two batters. After Zach Miller was intentionally walked Branden Kanick drove in the winning run with a double.

Both teams scored in the first inning. Vega led off the game with a double, stole third and scored on Hess' sacrifice fly. IUP answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the frame.

Gannon took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning as Trey Zeroski (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny) had an RBI single and Vozel followed with another run-scoring single, both hits coming with two outs.
The lead grew to 4-1 in the fifth. With one out Hess singles, moved up on Bielanin's walk, and scored on a two-out single to left by Kieran Gagnon (Mono, Ontario/Westside).  

Engel, a big right-hander, held IUP scoreless after the first inning. His day ended with a strikeout to end the sixth inning with the bases loaded. Engel allowed just an unearned run on four hits. He walked two, both in his final inning, and struck out three.

IUP scored another unearned run in the seventh inning, and tied the game in the eighth with a pair of runs despite just one hit. The Crimson Hawks were aided by three walks and a pair of wild pitches. That set the stage for the eventful ninth inning.   

Gannon outhit IUP 10-8 but the Crimson Hawks had 12 walks. Vozel was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Vega and Gagnon were 2-for-5. Vega's home run tied the junior second baseman for the team lead. Vega drove in two runs and Gagnon one, while Gagnon stole two bases and Vega one.

Vega ended the season with a team-high 21 stolen bases and has 61 career swipes, which tied him for second all-time at Gannon. He will enter his senior season seven steals shy of Clint Page's school-record of 68.  
 
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