THE GAME FACTS 
Game One: Gannon 8, UPJ 4 
Game Two: Gannon 5, UPJ 3 
Records: Gannon (19-18, 13-7 PSAC West) | UPJ (14-27, 5-15 PSAC West) 
Location: Erie, PA - McConnell Family Stadium 

ERIE, PA – Gannon swept past UPJ on Senior Day, taking two from the Mountain Cats while honoring 13 seniors following the second game. Gannon improves to 13-7 in the PSAC West and moves into second place in the western division with two conference weekends to play.  

In game one, GU used a three-run sixth inning to pull away for an 8-4 win.  Gannon answered early, traded runs throughout the middle innings, and broke a 5-4 game open in the sixth when Ian Soto (Florida, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristiana de Manati) delivered a three-run double to left center. Hunter Troiano (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seneca Valley) provided the game winning solo home run in the fifth. 

After falling behind 3-0 in the second inning of game two, Gannon answered with four runs over the next two innings and added an insurance run in the fifth on a Matt Smith (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) home run, while the bullpen held UPJ scoreless the rest of the way. 

THE KNIGHTCAP – GAME ONE 

• Early Response: After falling behind 1-0, Gannon capitalized on errors and got an RBI single from Cainen Atherton (Mount Union, Pa./Mount Union Area) to take a 2-1 lead in the second.  

• Trading Runs: Pitt-Johnstown tied the game in the fourth, but Drew Stangelo (Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) answered with a two-run double to give Gannon a 4-2 advantage.  

• Momentum Swings: UPJ evened the score at 4-4 in the fifth before Hunter Troiano (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seneca Valley) responded with a solo home run to put Gannon back in front, his fifth of the season. 

• Game-breaking Moment: With the bases loaded in the sixth, Ian Soto (Florida, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristiana de Manati) delivered a three-run double to extend the lead to 8-4.   

• Key contributors: Soto finished with three RBIs, Stangelo added two RBIs, and Troiano homered while scoring two runs.  

• Staff Effort on the Mound: Nolan Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) (1-3) earned this first win of the season, and the bullpen combined for 2.1 scoreless innings to close it out. Logan Oakes (Kent, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and Ryan Bioni (Bridgeville, Pa./Chartiers Valley) recorded a scoreless inning each. 

THE KNIGHTCAP – GAME TWO 

• Early Deficit: Pitt-Johnstown jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning on a three-run home run.  

• Immediate Response: Gannon got on the board in the second as Matt Smith (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) drove in a run, cutting the deficit to 3-1.  

• Big Third: The Golden Knights took control with three runs in the third, highlighted by a two-run double from Matt Smith (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) to give Gannon a 4-3 lead.  

• Insurance Run: Matt Smith (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) added his second big swing of the game with a solo home run in the fifth to extend the lead to 5-3.  

• Matt Smith (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) Leads the Way: Smith went 3-for-3 with a double, home run, and four RBIs, accounting for the bulk of the offense.  

• Setting the Table: Dom Costello (North Olmsted, Ohio/North Olmsted) and Connor Smith (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny) each recorded two hits and helped spark scoring opportunities at the top of the order.  

• Bullpen Dominance: Ashton Wheelock (Ashtabula, Ohio/Lakeside) earned the win in relief, while Brady Berdine (Warren, Pa./Warren Area) secured the save with 2.2 scoreless innings.  

Up Next 

The Golden Knights will remain home for a non-conference matchup with Walsh on Tuesday, March 21st at 3:00 pm.