Dom Costello vs. Mercyhurst
Jeff Kirik

Baseball Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Games Preview: Coming Off Big Wins, Gannon and Clarion Meet for Four Games this Weekend

GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (7-29, 4-16 PSAC West) at CLARION GOLDEN EAGLES (12-29, 6-14 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME:  Friday, April 26, 2024 | 1:00 p.m. (DH)
BALLPARK/LOCATION: Memorial Stadium Complex l Clarion, Pa.
LIVE VIDEO l LIVE STATS

CLARION GOLDEN EAGLES (12-29, 6-14 PSAC West) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (7-29, 4-16 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME:  Saturday, April 27, 2024 | 1:00 p.m. (DH)
BALLPARK/LOCATION: McConnell Family Stadium l Erie, Pa.
LIVE VIDEO l LIVE STATS


ERIE, Pa. – It has been a long season for a Gannon baseball team that has suffered more than its share of injuries and close losses. On Tuesday the Golden Knights made it a little more soothing for third-year head coach DJ Cannon with an 11-6 win over seventh-ranked Ashland.

The win was just what a young squad needed as it comes down the stretch. The Golden Knights have a four-game series this weekend with Clarion before a single nine-inning game at Walsh on Tuesday, April 30, and wrapping up the 2024 campaign with four games vs. Seton Hill later next week.

Gannon improved to 7-29 on the season with the win at Ashland and is 4-16 in the PSAC West. Clarion enjoyed its own statement win this week with a 10-5 victory at Kent State on Wednesday. That left the Golden Eagles at 12-29. They are 6-14 in the Western Division.

The two teams play the first of back-to-back doubleheaders at Clarion on Friday, April 26. The next day they will play two more games at Gannon. The doubleheader at McConnell Family Stadium will begin at 1:00 p.m. Following the second game Gannon will celebrate Senior Day.

This year's Senior Day will feature a large number of Golden Knights – 16 in all – being recognized. They include: Jared Bielanin (Erie, Pa./McDowell), Kyle Borrello (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg), David Duffalo (West Sunbury, Pa./Slippery Rock Area), Kieran Gagnon (Mono, Ontario/Westside), Alex Gregory (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan), Nick Harhai (West Homestead, Pa./Steel Valley), Justin Kerestes (Loves Park, Ill./Boylan Central Catholic), Dom Pearson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson), Josh Quartley (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North), Connor Rakow (Franklin, Pa./Franklin), Joe Reitebach (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg), Kevin Schott (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny), Brenden Shaffer (Altoona, Pa./Altoona), Corey Shields (Waterford, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf), Miguel Vega (Florida, Puerto Rico/Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy), and Kieran Versaw-Barnes (Elkins Park, Pa./Cheltenham).

Sophomore outfielder/designated hitter Carson Wible (Franklin, Pa./Franklin) is one of two Golden Knights hitting over .300. He is hitting .307 with 3 HRs and 22 RBIs. The latter figure is tied for the team lead with Jared Bielanin (Erie, Pa./McDowell). Bielanin, a senior third baseman, comes in at .264 with 10 doubles.

Sophomore Reece Colvin (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) has raised his batting average to .302 since taking over as the regular center fielder. Colvin has driven in 19 runs and was 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs at Ashland. Recently he hit a walk-off grand slam for a 10-8 win over Mercyhurst. It was his first collegiate home run and came after he had not hit a home run in high school.

Yet another sophomore outfielder, Brendan Koroly (Mars, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic), is at .273. Freshman shortstop Alex Bemis (Monroe, Ohio/Monroe) is hitting .264 with a team-high 13 doubles to rank among the PSAC leaders. He adds 10 stolen bases and has made just seven errors in 123 chances.

Miguel Vega (Florida, Puerto Rico/Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy) enjoyed his finest game of the year on Tuesday with four hits in five at bats, driving in three runs. The senior second baseman has boosted his average to .227 and leads Gannon with 12 stolen bases. He recently set the career record for stolen bases, now standing at 73.

Clarion also two hitters above .300 in Kasey Shughart and Scotty McManamon. Shughart, a senior outfielder, is hitting .331 while McManamon leads the Golden Eagles in several categories while hitting .329. The senior shortstop has a team-high four home runs, is second in RBIs (19) and leads the way in stolen bases (16). He was a first team All-PSAC West selection last year.
 
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Players Mentioned

Jared Bielanin

#12 Jared Bielanin

INF
6' 2"
Senior
R/R
Kyle Borrello

#28 Kyle Borrello

LHP/1B
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
L/L
Reece Colvin

#3 Reece Colvin

OF
5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R
David Duffalo

#46 David Duffalo

C
5' 6"
Senior
R/R
Kieran Gagnon

#24 Kieran Gagnon

OF
5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
Alex Gregory

#52 Alex Gregory

RHP
5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Nick Harhai

#39 Nick Harhai

RHP
6' 4"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Justin Kerestes

#33 Justin Kerestes

1B
6' 5"
Redshirt Junior
L/R
Brendan Koroly

#4 Brendan Koroly

INF/OF
5' 9"
Sophomore
L/R
Dom Pearson

#41 Dom Pearson

INF
5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Jared Bielanin

#12 Jared Bielanin

6' 2"
Senior
R/R
INF
Kyle Borrello

#28 Kyle Borrello

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
L/L
LHP/1B
Reece Colvin

#3 Reece Colvin

5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R
OF
David Duffalo

#46 David Duffalo

5' 6"
Senior
R/R
C
Kieran Gagnon

#24 Kieran Gagnon

5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
OF
Alex Gregory

#52 Alex Gregory

5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
RHP
Nick Harhai

#39 Nick Harhai

6' 4"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
RHP
Justin Kerestes

#33 Justin Kerestes

6' 5"
Redshirt Junior
L/R
1B
Brendan Koroly

#4 Brendan Koroly

5' 9"
Sophomore
L/R
INF/OF
Dom Pearson

#41 Dom Pearson

5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
INF