THE GAME FACTS
Game One: Slippery Rock 10, Gannon 8
Game Two: Gannon 1, Slippery Rock 0
Records: Gannon (14-17, 8-6 PSAC West) | Slippery Rock (18-12, 6-8 PSAC West)
Location: Slippery Rock, Pa. – Jack Critchfield Park
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Two very different games played out in Slippery Rock on Saturday, as the Golden Knights split a twinbill with the Rock to start the four game series.
GU would take an early lead in game one, but Slippery Rock used a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to hand the Golden Knights a 10-8 game one setback.
In game two, Jacob Engel (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) delivered a dominant performance on the mound, tossing a complete-game shutout to lead the Gannon baseball team to a 1-0 victory over Slippery Rock in game two of Saturday's PSAC West doubleheader at Critchfield Park.
THE KNIGHT CAP - GAME ONE
- Early Strike: Gannon struck first in the second inning behind back-to-back solo home runs from Wes Parker (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) and Connor Smith (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny) to take a 2-0 lead.
- Middle Frame Response: Trailing 7-3, the Golden Knights responded in a big way in the fifth inning. After Parker drove in a run with a single, Matt Smith (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) launched a three-run home run to tie the game at 7-7.
- Collecting Base Knocks: The Golden Knights totaled 10 hits offensively
- Wes Parker (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township): 4-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI, HR
- Connor Smith (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny): 2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI, HR, 2B
- Matt Smith (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area): 1-for-4, 3 RBI, HR
THE KNIGHT CAP - GAME TWO
- Jacob's Gem: Right hander Jacob Engel (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) was completely dominant on the hill in game two. He tossed a complete game (7.0 IP), allowing just 2 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, and collecting 3 strikeouts. Engel is now 4-2 on the season with a team leading 1.29 WHIP.
- Late Edge: The breakthrough on offense finally came in the top of the seventh. Matt Smith (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) led off with a double to center field, and after a pair of outs and a walk to Tommy Koroly (Mars, Pa./North Catholic), Hunter Troiano (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seneca Valley) delivered with an RBI walk to bring home the game's only run.
- Defensive Gem: In the bottom of the seventh, Troiano made arguably the play of the year for the Golden Knights thus far. A hard hit ball to the hole saw Troiano make a leaping, Derek Jeter esque throw to throw out the runner and preserve the win.
- Matt Smith (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area): 2-for-3, run scored, double
- Hunter Troiano (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seneca Valley): 1-for-2, RBI, 2 walks
Up Next
Gannon will host SRU for the final two games of the series on Sunday at McConnell Family Stadium. The games are set for 1/3:30 pm.