The Fast Facts
2025 record: 22-25 (14-14 PSAC)
Record Breakdown: 9-6 Home, 10-18 Away, 3-1 Neutral
Conference Finish: 5th PSAC West
PSAC Preseason Ranking: 5th
Season Opener: Friday, 2/20 @ Shippensburg - 2:00 pm
Home Opener: Friday, 3/20 vs IUP - 1:00/3:30 pm

ERIE, PA - One could argue that if the 2025 season were a week longer, the Golden Knights would have earned a spot in the PSAC Tournament and been one of the hottest teams coming into tournament play. Regardless, Gannon ended last season by doubling their win total from 2024, winning seven of their last nine games to finish fifth in the PSAC West and just two games out of a playoff spot. 

This season, several starters from a year ago will return to a GU lineup that has plenty to be invigorated about. Gannon should have plenty of firepower at the top of the lineup, with names such as Wes Parker (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township), Ian Soto (Florida, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristiana de Manati), Connor Smith (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny), and Dom Costello (North Olmsted, Ohio/North Olmsted) all back for the Golden Knights. On the mound, health may be the only thing that could stop the Golden Knights from emerging as one of the top pitching staffs in the conference. Top starter Ryan Hood (Latrobe, Pa./Derry Area) is back for his junior season, while local product Jacob Engel (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) looks to factor in as well. From the bullpen, Logan Ayres (New Castle, Pa./Laurel) was Gannon's shutdown reliever from 2025, who embarks on his junior campaign this year. 

Teams in the PSAC demand that you play your best day in and day out. Head coach DJ Cannon, now in his fifth season, believes this team can put together an impressive run as GU looks to replicate what the skipper did in his first season (PSAC West Division Title and NCAA DII Tournament berth).

"This will be the first year in a while that we have a more veteran group," said Cannon. "We're excited about the group we have and hope our offseason preparation can lead us to take a big step this year."

Here's a detailed look at what & who to watch for in 2026:

At The Plate

Wes Parker (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) (1B /Senior) - Parker came to Gannon by way of Toledo last season and immediately became the teams cornerstone piece in the lineup. The slugger blasted ten home runs, a team high for the 2025 season, while collecting ten doubles and a team leading (tied) 41 RBI's. He was one of five Golden Knights to have an average of above .300 (.375) and constantly made things incredibly difficult on opposing pitchers. Named First Team All-PSAC West a year ago, Parker will undoubtedly be called upon again to lead the charge at the plate.

Connor Smith (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny) (OF & RHP / R-Junior) - No player on the Golden Knights roster is as effective as a two way player than Smith. While he picked up two saves in five appearances on the rubber, the redshirt junior was relentless at the dish in the second half of last season. His .378 average led the team, as he collected nine doubles and five home runs in the process. Smith added nine stolen bases and was effective in driving in runs, earning 29 RBI's, tied for second on the team. In the outfield, Smith made multiple highlight reel catches in left field, an outfield cornerstone for DJ Cannon and the Golden Knights. 

Cannon: "[Smith and Parker] are certainly at the heart of our lineup. There are a lot of guys across the board that are important for us. Some nice surprises from a year ago will help round out our lineup nicely. There are a host of individuals that could also fight for playing time in the lineup to help our offense."

On The Mound

Ryan Hood (Latrobe, Pa./Derry Area) (RHP / R-Junior) - Hood will be Gannon's top returning starter from a year ago. In 2025, the righty produced a 3-5 record and was second on the team in strikeouts with 42. He allowed just four home runs all season long and earned an ERA of 4.41. A dynamic pitcher with lots of velocity, Hood will be tasked with leading the charge on the bump. 

Logan Ayres (New Castle, Pa./Laurel) (LHP / R-Junior) - Lights out Lefty. Ayres was unhittable during several stretches of the 2025 season. The southpaw led the Golden Knights with three saves, appearing in 13 games, 11 out of the bullpen. Finishing with a 1-2 record and 2/25 ERA, Ayres notched 35 strikeouts, third on the team in just 40 innings on the mound. 

Zach Tkatch (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) (RHP / Sophomore) - In his freshman season, Tkatch started eight games and earned an impressive 3-1 record. The right hander collected 24 strikeouts in 37.1 innings pitched. He'll be called upon to likely take an increased role as the season begins. 

Jacob Engel (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) (RHP / R-Junior) - Engel has struggled with injuries during his Gannon career, but when healthy, the Cathedral Prep product has been a force on the hill. The junior was second on the team in wins in 2025, amassing a 4-2 mark, making eight starts. Engel would strike out 20 batters in just over 31 innings pitched. 

Cannon: "We have a lot of quality production returning, and even so, there are a lot of freshmen that will project to have roles this year as well. They're a very talented group across the board that should give us some nice depth."

On Defense
The middle of the field is all back. Center fielder Brendan Koroly (Mars, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) will lead the charge in center and can be a five tool player for the Golden Knights. The senior played some infield as well a year ago and is interchangable in multiple positions. Koroly had a 1.000 fielding percentage last year. In the middle of the infield, the duo of Hunter Troiano (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seneca Valley) (SS) and Frank Kula (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) (2B) are both back in 2026 and helped the Golden Knights turn two 30 times a season ago. Behind the dish, Drew Stangelo (Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) is back for Gannon, now in his junior season. Last year, he averaged .318 at the plate in 34 starts, while also notching 226 putouts. He comes into the season with a career .985% in the field.

Cannon: "Being strong up the middle is very important, and we have that this year. They are all leaders [at shortstop, catcher, second base, center field] and can help us to clean up some of the mistakes we made from a year ago in order to have a deep run."

Coaching Staff
Gannon University baseball head coach DJ Cannon enters his fifth season at the helm in 2026. In his first three campaigns Cannon has compiled a 79-102 record.

After an injury-filled and discouraging 2024 campaign the 2025 Gannon edition doubled its win total, finishing at 22-25 and just missing out on the PSAC Tournament while finishing at the .500 mark in conference play with a 14-14 ledger. The record would have been ever better if not for eight losses by a run.

Cannon rebuilt the squad with a young roster that shows great promise for the future. The Golden Knights served notice that they were a much-improved team during the spring trip. They won four of five games in Florida including an 11-7 win at Rollins and a 14-4 triumph over a Point Park squad that won the Mountain East Conference championship and finished with a 40-14 record. 

Gannon was rewarded with four players on the All-PSAC West team. Alex Bemis (Monroe, Ohio/Monroe) (3B/OF) and Wes Parker (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) (1B) earned first team honors while Jake Boynar (North Ridgeville, Ohio/North Ridgeville) (P) and Connor Smith (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny) (OF) were awarded spots on the second team.

The Golden Knights open the season on Friday, February 20th at Shippensburg. They'll play 17 straight road games to begin the year before welcoming in IUP for a titanic early season series in the PSAC West on Friday, March 20th.