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Mike Gallagher

Baseball 3/20/2025 7:45:00 PM Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Baseball Hosts Clarion in Home, PSAC Opener

CLARION GOLDEN EAGLES (6-8, 0-0 PSAC West) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (6-9, 0-0 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME: Friday, March 21, 2025 | 1:00 p.m.
FIELD/LOCATION: McConnell Family Stadium l Erie, Pa.
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ERIE, Pa. – After playing 15 straight games on the road to start the season the Gannon baseball team will play its home opener on Friday, March 21. The doubleheader against Clarion gets underway at 1:00 p.m. and will also be the PSAC West opener for both teams. Gannon was picked to finish fifth and Clarion seventh in the PSAC West preseason poll.
Weather has already impacted the four-games series. The teams were scheduled to return to action on Saturday with a second twinbill at Clarion but that doubleheader has been moved back a day and will now be played on Sunday.
Gannon snapped a five-game losing streak on Tuesday with an 8-5 win at D'Youville. The Golden Knights jumped out to an 8-3 lead thanks to a four-run third inning and held the Saints scoreless over the final five innings. The win left the Golden Knights with a deceiving 6-9 record. Five of those losses have been by a run with the opponent scoring the winning run in their last at bat.
Clarion, meanwhile, is 6-8 under first-year head coach Johnny Poss. The Golden Eagles lost a wild 191-2 game at Bloomsburg on Wednesday. Amazingly, at least one team has scored double figure runs in eight of the Golden Eagles' 14 games.

After a tough, injury-filled 2024 campaign that saw the Golden Knights win just 11 games head coach DJ Cannon has retooled his lineup with transfers and freshmen.

Wes Parker (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) got a late start due to an injury but has made up for lost time in ten games. The transfer from Toledo is hitting .366 with 4 HRs and 14 RBIs in just 41 at bats.

While not a newcomer, Ian Soto (Florida, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristiana de Manati) has been an exciting addition to the lineup. After serving as a relief pitcher a year ago the redshirt junior has emerged as the team's designated hitter. He is hitting .345 with two home runs and 14 RBIs. He hit his second homer on Tuesday.

Freshman shortstop Hunter Troiano (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seneca Valley) is next at .302 with a homer and 13 RBIs. Sophomore catcher Drew Stangelo (Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) is hitting .300.

Last year's starting shortstop, Alex Bemis (Monroe, Ohio/Monroe), moved to the outfield this year but on Thursday played at third base. He had three hits in his debut at the hot corner to boost his average to .298. Bemis has stolen six bases while newcomer Frank Kula (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) a transfer from Rhode Island, has a team-high nine stolen bases.

Redshirt sophomore Ryan Hood (Latrobe, Pa./Derry Area) has emerged as the top starting pitcher. The big righthander has a 1-0 record with a 1.15 ERA in three starts. He has struck out 11 in 15.2 innings. Sophomore Jake Boynar (North Ridgeville, Ohio/North Ridgeville), another tall righthander, has a team-high 24 strikeouts in 16 innings with a 1-2 record and 6.44 ERA.

NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Gannon will play a single, nine-inning non-conference game at Walsh on Tuesday, March 25. First pitch is 3:00 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Alex Bemis: INF/RHP; 5' 11"; Sophomore; R/R

#52 Jake Boynar: RHP; 6' 6"; Sophomore; R/R

#29 Ryan Hood: RHP; 6' 5"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R

#50 Ian Soto: OF/RHP; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior; R/R

#27 Drew Stangelo: C; 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R

#24 Frank Kula: INF; 6' 0"; Sophomore; L/R

#6 Wes Parker: 1B; 6' 4"; Junior; R/R

#21 Hunter Troiano: INF; 5' 9"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#2 Alex Bemis
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; R/R
: INF/RHP

#52 Jake Boynar
: 6' 6"; Sophomore; R/R
: RHP

#29 Ryan Hood
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R
: RHP

#50 Ian Soto
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior; R/R
: OF/RHP

#27 Drew Stangelo
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R
: C

#24 Frank Kula
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; L/R
: INF

#6 Wes Parker
: 6' 4"; Junior; R/R
: 1B

#21 Hunter Troiano
: 5' 9"; Freshman; R/R
: INF