Scoreboard

Mike Gallagher

Baseball 3/27/2025 9:49:00 AM Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Golden Knights to Play Four Games vs. California (Pa.) This Weekend

CALIFORNIA (PA) VULCANS (15-3, 3-0 PSAC West) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (8-12, 1-3 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME: Friday, March 28, 2025 | 1:00 p.m.
FIELD/LOCATION: McConnell Family Stadium l Erie, Pa.
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ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon baseball team returns to PSAC competition on Friday, March 28 with the first of two weekend doubleheaders against California (Pa.). The Golden Knights and Vulcans will meet at 1:00 p.m. on Friday at McConnell Family Stadium then play two more games at Cal the next day.

Head coach DJ Cannon's team has battled the flu over the last week but managed to snap a three-game losing streak with a 6-3 win at Walsh on Tuesday. The Golden Knights took a shortened roster to Ohio but rode three RBI's from Ian Soto (Florida, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristiana de Manati) and a four-hitter from eight different pitchers to the victory.

Gannon owns an 8-12 record and is 1-3 in the PSAC West after dropping three of four games to Clarion last weekend. The record is deceiving as the Golden Knights have lost six games in the opponents' last at bat. California (Pa.) is off to a 15-3 start and is 3-0 in league play after opening against Lock Haven. The Vulcans had a 10-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday with a 7-6 loss to Point Park.

Cannon has retooled his lineup with transfers and freshmen. Most notable is the addition of Wes Parker (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township), a big first baseman who previously played at Toledo. The junior missed the first five games with an injury but has returned to hit .400 with 4 doubles, 6 HRs and 18 RBIs. He is tied for third in the PSAC in home runs.

Soto has made a successful transition from pitcher to designated hitter. The redshirt junior is hitting .301 with 2 HRs and 16 RBIs. Freshman shortstop Hunter Troiano (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seneca Valley) is also hitting above .300 at .317 with 13 RBIs.

Last year's shortstop, Alex Bemis (Monroe, Ohio/Monroe), is now playing third base after starting the season in center field. The sophomore is hitting .288 with 14 RBIs. He has 4 doubles, 2 triples and 2 home runs. Frank Kula (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands), a transfer from Rhode Island, has broken out of a recent slump and boosted his average to .243. He leads the team in doubles (6) and stolen bases (10).

Ryan Hood (Latrobe, Pa./Derry Area) has been Gannon's top starter on the mound. In four starts the redshirt sophomore right hander has a 2-0 record with a 1.37 ERA. In 19.2 innings he has struck out 17.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

#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