ALLENDALE, Mich. – Gannon had scored just eight runs over the course of the first three games against Grand Valley State. In the series finale, the Golden Knights put a bakers dozen on the board, but the pitching couldn't hold the home bats at bay in a 19-13 defeat. GU now gears up for an away matchup with D'Youville on Tuesday before taking home field for the first time this season on Friday, March 21st against Clarion.
Jacob Engel (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) took a 2-0 mark into Saturday's contest as he was given the starting nod. Three batters into the game, however, Grand Valley State pounced on the righty, hitting a two run home run to take the early lead. The lead ballooned to 5-0 in the second on two RBI singles, and Engel was done after 2.1 innings of work.
Clawing back into it in the third,
Wes Parker (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) continued his great weekend by follow up yesterday's ninth inning HR with a double to center that plated
Hunter Troiano (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seneca Valley) &
Lance Slater (Renfrew, Pa./Butler).
Alex Bemis (Monroe, Ohio/Monroe) followed with an RBI single &
Frank Kula (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) got a run home on a groundout. A four run frame cut the deficit to 5-4.
Relieving Engel,
Nick Robertson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) struggled to get by his first few batters. He allowed both an RBI single and double in what was a short two outs of work for him. GU trailed by multiple runs once again, 7-4.
Yet, the Golden Knights immediately responded with their second straight four run frame. A sacrifice fly fro Soto brought Parker another opportunity with a man in scoring position, and he delivered, getting home his third RBI of the afternoon.
Brady Gavula (Butler, Pa./Butler Area) got in on the action with a single that played a pair, and GU took their first lead of the game, 8-7.
GVSU retook the lead at 10-8 in the bottom of the fourth. An RBI triple and single, and a run coming home on an error from catcher
Drew Stangelo (Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) led to a fourth straight inning with runs allowed. Both teams would add a two-RBI single in the fifth, and Gannon trailed 12-10 heading to the sixth.
Batting from the eight spot, local product
Reece Colvin (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) leveled the game at 12-12 in the sixth, when he roped a double to the gap in left center. Stangelo and Gavula touched home, and Gannon had scored a run for the fourth straight frame. A GVSU homer in the bottom of the inning put GU behind again, 14-12, but that lead was sliced in half when Bemis earned another RBI to make it 14-13.
The late innings plagued the Golden Knights. Allowing a run in the bottom of the seventh,
Logan Oakes (Kent, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) was touched for four in the eighth, including a pair of home runs. A scoreless top of the ninth led GVSU to a series sweep and a 19-13 win.
