Scoreboard

Mike Gallagher

Baseball 3/25/2025 6:29:00 PM Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Soto Drives in Three Runs, Eight Hurlers Pitch Gannon to 6-3 Win at Walsh

NORTH CANTON, Ohio – The Gannon baseball team snapped a three-game losing streak on Tuesday rallying for a 6-3 win at Walsh. The victory boosted the Golden Knights to 8-12 on the season while Walsh dipped to 3-17.

With the flu hitting the team over the last few days head coach DJ Cannon left a large number of players at home. But he patched together a lineup that ended the day with 12 hits and eight different pitchers limited the Cavaliers to just four hits.

Connor Smith (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny) started the game in left field and ended up going 3-for-5 with an RBI. The redshirt sophomore then came in and tossed the final inning to pick up his second save. Wes Parker (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) also had three hits in five at bats while Ian Soto (Florida, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristiana de Manati) went 2-for-5 with 3 RBIs. Dom Costello (North Olmsted, Ohio/North Olmsted) was 2-for-4 at the plate.

Carson Whiteman (Kane, Pa./Kane Area) started the game and threw the first inning, with Hayden Jenkins (Carrollton, Ohio/Carrollton) tossing a perfect second inning. Nick Harhai (West Homestead, Pa./Steel Valley) was next in line and was the only hurler to throw an inning. Like Harhai, freshman Blake Bertucci (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) made his first appearance of the season and allowed a walk while striking out two in the fifth inning. Ryan Bioni (Bridgeville, Pa./Chartiers Valley) struck out all three batters he faced in the sixth and picked up the win after Gannon broke a 3-3 tie with a pair of runs in the seventh. Ashton Wheelock (Ashtabula, Ohio/Lakeside) relieved in the seventh with Matt Graeber (Washington, Pa./Canon-McMillan) and Smith each pitching an inning. All told the eight pitchers walked four and struck out ten.

Gannon took a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the second inning Smith and Hunter Troiano (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seneca Valley) opened the inning with singles. Chris Mullins (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) eventually drove in Smith with a sacrifice fly.

Walsh scored all three of its runs in the fourth inning before Gannon mounted its comeback. The Golden Knights tied the game with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. Parker doubled with one out and came home on Soto's double. Soto scored on Smith's single to right field.

The Golden Knights took the lead with two more runs in the seventh, both coming with two outs. Frank Kula (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) walked and Alex Bemis (Monroe, Ohio/Monroe) was hit by a pitch. Parker loaded the bases with an infield single and Soto pushed across the game-winning runs with a single to right field.

Gannon added an insurance run in the eighth. Mullins doubled with one out and moved to third on Costello's single. He scored on Tommy Koroly's (Mars, Pa./North Catholic) fielder's choice.

Gannon returns to PSAC West action this weekend with a four-game set against California (Pa.). The Vulcans visit McConnell Family Stadium on Friday, March 28 for a doubleheader before the Golden Knights head to Cal on Saturday for two more games.

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Players Mentioned

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

#20 Ryan Bioni: RHP; 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R

#22 Dom Costello: 1B/OF; 6' 3"; Sophomore; L/L

#34 Matt Graeber: RHP; 6' 6"; Senior; R/R

#39 Nick Harhai: RHP; 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

#7 Chris Mullins: C; 6' 1"; Junior; R/R

#26 Connor Smith: OF/RHP; 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R

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

#15 Ashton Wheelock: OF/RHP; 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R

#30 Carson Whiteman: RHP; 6' 5"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

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

#20 Ryan Bioni
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R
: RHP

#22 Dom Costello
: 6' 3"; Sophomore; L/L
: 1B/OF

#34 Matt Graeber
: 6' 6"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#39 Nick Harhai
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: RHP

#7 Chris Mullins
: 6' 1"; Junior; R/R
: C

#26 Connor Smith
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R
: OF/RHP

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

#15 Ashton Wheelock
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R
: OF/RHP

#30 Carson Whiteman
: 6' 5"; Senior; R/R
: RHP