THE GAME FACTS
Game One: Gannon 4, Seton Hill 3 (10)
Game Two: Seton Hill 12, Gannon 1
Records: Gannon (21-19, 14-8 PSAC West) | Seton Hill (35-9, 20-2)
Location: Erie, PA - McConnell Family Stadium
ERIE, PA - The Golden Knights earned an important split with conference leading Seton Hill on Friday at home. Gannon walked-off the Griffins in extra innings, 4-3 (10) to earn a huge conference win, before falling in game two.
Gannon delivered a statement in game one, outlasting conference-leading Seton Hill, 4-3, in 10 innings at McConnell Family Stadium. The Golden Knights in the win handed the Griffins just their second conference loss of the season and ninth overall.
In a tightly contested battle, Gannon erased a mid-game deficit with a three-run fifth inning, matched Seton Hill late, and walked it off in the 10th on a sacrifice fly from Matt Smith (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) to secure the extra-inning victory.
After hanging tough early in game two, Seton Hill broke the game open with a three-run fifth inning and an eight-run sixth to pull away.
THE KNIGHTCAP - GAME ONE
- Hood, Pitching Find Success: Ryan Hood (Latrobe, Pa./Derry Area) tossed 5.2 strong innings, allowing just one run, while Brady Berdine (Warren, Pa./Warren Area) earned the win with four innings of relief, limiting Seton Hill to two runs (one earned).
- Fifth Inning Breakthrough: Trailing 1-0, Gannon erupted for three runs in the fifth. Hunter Troiano (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seneca Valley) delivered an RBI single, and Connor Smith (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny) followed with a two-run single to give the Golden Knights a 3-1 lead.
- Back-and-Forth Battle: Seton Hill answered with two runs in the seventh to tie the game at 3-3, setting up a tense finish.
- Clutch in Extras: In the 10th, Dom Costello (North Olmsted, Ohio/North Olmsted) led off with a single and advanced to third before Matt Smith (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) lifted a sacrifice fly to center, bringing home the game-winning run.
- Timely Offense: Gannon finished with 4 runs on 9 hits, getting key production when it mattered most.
- Top Performers: Costello scored two runs, while Troiano and Connor Smith (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny) each recorded two hits, with Smith driving in a team-high two RBIs.
- Grinding at-Bats: Gannon drew four walks, including two in the 10th inning to help set up the walk-off opportunity.
- Defense Under Pressure: Despite late pressure from Seton Hill, Gannon turned two double plays and made key outs to keep the game within reach.
THE KNIGHTCAP - GAME TWO
- Tight Early Battle: Gannon trailed just 1-0 through four innings as Jacob Engel (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) kept Seton Hill in check early.
- Game Shifts in Fifth: Seton Hill plated three runs in the fifth to extend the lead to 4-0.
- Limited Offense: Gannon managed 1 run on 2 hits, with Nick Walker (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour) driving in the lone run in the seventh.
UP NEXT
Gannon will travel to Seton Hill to complete the series on Sunday, April 24th. Game times are set for 1/3:30 pm.