Scoreboard

Mike Gallagher

Baseball 4/8/2025 9:46:00 AM Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Baseball to Play Two at Ashland on Wednesday

GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (12-16, 5-7 PSAC West) at ASHLAND EAGLES (23-8, 14-2 GMAC)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. | Doubleheader
FIELD/LOCATION: Tomassi Stadium and Donges Field at the Archer Ballpark Complex l Ashland, Ohio
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ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon baseball team will take a break from the PSAC battles with a mid-week non-conference doubleheader. The Golden Knights face a stern test while traveling to the Buckeye State to play at Ashland on Wednesday, April 9. The twinbill gets underway at 2:00 p.m.

The Golden Knights face an Ashland team that has run off six straight wins to improve to 23-8. The Eagles are second in the North Division of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference with a 14-2 record. They are among "others receiving votes" in the latest ABCA NCAA Division II Baseball Top 25.

Gannon improved to 12-16 overall and 5-7 in the PSAC West thanks to a sweep of Slippery Rock last Saturday. The Golden Knights rode a three-run walk-off home run by Ian Soto (Florida, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristiana de Manati) for a 6-3 win in the opener then outscored SRU 10-4 in the nightcap.

In the process head coach DJ Cannon's team eclipsed its win total from a year ago after the Golden Knights suffered through an 11-34 finish. Cannon has quickly rebuilt the Golden Knights with several transfers and freshmen replenishing the starting lineup. Meanwhile, after numerous injuries a year ago the pitching staff has settled on a solid four-man rotation.

SLUGGER PARKER TOPS HITTERS
Cannon's lineup now has five hitters at .300-or-better, led by Wes Parker (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) at .352. The Toledo transfer ranks among the PSAC leaders in home runs with seven and is tied for the team lead with 22 RBIs. Freshman shortstop Hunter Troiano (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seneca Valley) is next at .337.

Soto comes in at .327 with 3 HRs and 21 RBIs. A year ago the redshirt junior was serving as a relief pitcher, now he is hitting cleanup as the designated hitter.

Sophomores Drew Stangelo (Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) and Alex Bemis (Monroe, Ohio/Monroe) are hitting .311 and .304, respectively. Stangelo has served as the team's main catcher. After starting at shortstop a year ago, Bemis began the year in center field and now mans third base. He has a team-high nine doubles with three home runs and is tied with Parker with 22 RBIs. Bemis also has nine stolen bases, second to Frank Kula's (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) team-leading 13 steals.

UP NEXT
Following Wednesday's doubleheader at Ashland the Golden Knights will play a four-game series against Pitt-Johnstown. The first doubleheader is set for McConnell Family Stadium on Friday, April 11 with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. On Saturday the teams meet for a second doubleheader at UPJ.

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Players Mentioned

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

#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