Biography
Benack is one of Gannon’s returning starters in the outfielder as a senior in 2018 … has the ability to play multiple positions on the infield and in the outfield … began his career as a second baseman where he started 33 games as a true freshman … enters his senior campaign 10th all-time at Gannon since 2000 in hit by pitches (20) … begins the 2018 campaign with 33 consecutive games without an error dating back to 2016.
2017: Saw action in 33 games, starting 26 … received starting assignments as a left fielder, right fielder and designated hitter … batted in five different lineup positions, including 20 starts in the leadoff role … named a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Scholar-Athlete … received the NCAA Division II Athletics Directors Association (ADA) Academic Achievement Award … finished third among Golden Knights in runs (25), third in hit by pitches (5) and fourth in walks (13) … was one of only two regulars to post a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage … reached base 50 percent (20-40) of the time when leading off an inning … drove home a run 75 percent (6-8) of the time when hitting with a runner on third base and less than two outs … produced five two-out RBIs … recorded five multiple-hit games and five multiple-RBI performances … opened the season with a team-best 13-game hit streak … hit .378 (17-45) with five walks, 15 runs and seven RBIs during the opening streak … scored multiple runs in a game six times, including four times during Gannon’s early-season southern road trip … generated a season-high three hits in a game twice at the Russ-Matt Invitational in Winter Haven, Florida … went 3-for-4 with three runs during an 8-6 victory against Tiffin … had three hits in four at-bats with two runs and three RBIs against Northwood (Mich.) … generated two hits in three consecutive games against California (Pa.) and Malone April 14-19.
2016: Played in 44 games, all starts … named a PSAC Scholar-Athlete … received the NCAA Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award … started 27 games in right field, 16 contests as a designated hitter and one game in left field … batted in six different lineup spots, topped by 23 appearances in the fifth spot and 17 games in the third spot … led Gannon to a 12-4 record when he served as the designated hitter … hit .387 (41-106) against right-handers, .443 (31-70) with runners on base, .750 (3-4) with the bases loaded, .419 (18-43) with runners in scoring position and .415 (17-41) with two outs … reached base 39.1 percent (9-23) of the time when leading off an inning … drove home a run 81.3 percent (13-16) of the time when hitting with a runner on third base and less than two outs … recorded nine two-out RBIs … produced 10 multiple-hit games and seven multiple-RBI performances … ranked third among PSAC players and 53rd among all NCAA Division II players in hit by pitches per game (0.30) … finished 13th among conference players in sacrifice flies (4) and 17th in on-base percentage (.460) … generated the third-highest single-season totals in program history in hit by pitches (13) and on-base percentage … named PSAC Western Division Player of the Week on March 21 after leading Gannon to a perfect 5-0 record, including a four-game sweep of Indiana (Pa.) … hit .529 (9-17) with a 1.000 slugging percentage and .571 on-base percentage in five starts during the stretch … added five runs, five doubles, one home run, five RBIs and 17 total bases during his award week … produced a team-best 10-game hit streak from March 12-26 … hit .394 (13-33) with eight runs, eight RBIs and six doubles during the 10-game streak … added an eight-game hit streak from April 18-30 … hit .524 (11-21) with five runs and nine RBIs during the eight-game run … went 6-for-8 with four runs, three RBIs, four doubles and one home run during a doubleheader sweep of Indiana (Pa.) at home … added his third three-hit game during a 17-5 victory at Clarion, going 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs … recorded three RBIs in a game three times … scored multiple runs in a game six times … produced a hit during 30 of 44 games … opened the season with 36 consecutive errorless games, spanning 29 fielding opportunities.
2015: Saw action in 34 games as a true freshman, starting 33 … named a PSAC Scholar-Athlete … started 24 games at second base and nine as the designated hitter … led Gannon in walks (14) … tied for third on the team in stolen bases (6) … hit .389 (7-18) against left-handers, .408 (20-49) with runners on base and .382 (13-34) with runners in scoring position … reached base 33.3 percent (9-27) of the time when leading off an inning … drove home a run 77.8 percent (7-9) of the time when hitting with a runner on third base and less than two outs … recorded nine multiple-hit games and three multiple-RBI efforts … made his collegiate debut against Findlay at the Russ-Matt Invitational … recorded his first career hit, RBI, double and walk against the Oilers … scored his first career run the next day during a 5-2 victory against Lewis (Ill.) … went 1-for-3 with a run, RBI, double, walk and stolen base against the Flyers … drew seven walks in nine games at the Russ-Matt Invitational … produced a season-high five-game hit streak March 13-20 .. hit .556 (10-18) during the streak with three runs and five RBIs … drilled his first career home run during a 9-8 victory against Pitt-Johnstown … finished a four-game series against Pitt-Johnstown with nine hits in 14 at-bats … went 3-for-5 with one run and one RBI during the second game of a road doubleheader at UPJ … ripped his first career triple during the first game of a twinbill at Mercyhurst, finishing 2-for-3 … had multiple hits in three consecutive games April 8-11 … completed a doubleheader sweep at Lock Haven with a 4-for-7 showing, scoring three times in the process … began his collegiate career with nine consecutive errorless games … concluded the campaign with 17 straight errorless contests, spanning 43 fielding opportunities.
High School: Played for head coach Gregg Fouts at Thomas Jefferson (Pa.) High School … hit .491 as a senior … selected to the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) Triple-A All-Star Game … helped Thomas Jefferson advance to the conference postseason … received the varsity letterman award … named to the National Honor Society … graduated with honors.
Personal: Electrical and Computer Engineering major … is the son of Sandy and Flip … has one sister.
