April 4, 2025/Midnight
Erie, PA —The Gannon Golden Knights baseball team split a four-game weekend against the California (Pa.) Vulcans. Gannon scored at least 3-runs in each game while hitting two total home runs in the series. The Golden Knights (8-13) entered the series against a confident Vulcans squad (16-3) that won 10 of its last 11 games.
The first game at McConnell Family Stadium on Friday afternoon saw California score the first run of game, then one in the second inning. Gannon matched that with a home run from Connor Smith in the bottom of the inning. After the Vulcans took the lead once again in the third, Drew Stangelo’s double allowed Smith and Ian Soto to score in the fourth inning. The Vulcans captured the lead for good when California’s Payton Conte homered in 2-runs during the 5th. The Vulcans added insurance in the sixth to win the first game, 6-3.
Starting pitcher, Jake Boynar, had one of his best performances in game 2 for Gannon. He earned his 2nd win of the season after allowing only 3 hits and 1 run. Wes Parker opened the scoring in the first, hitting a home run for the Golden Knights. Gannon picked up three extra runs in the 2nd inning to take a four-run lead early. Ikon Jones scored the lone run for California in the 3rd. The Golden Knights would then add a run in the 3rd and 5th innings. Logan Ayres earned his first save of the season by pitching the final three innings without allowing any runs. Gannon walked away with a 6-1 victory.
The teams traveled to California (Pa.) for the final two games of the series on Sunday. With two runners on base, Smith’s two-run single up the middle gave Gannon an early lead in the first inning. Alex Bemis and Frank Kula scored. California took the lead after scoring two runs in the 1st and one in the 2nd. After tying the game in the 3rd, the Golden Knights took the lead with a sacrifice fly. The ball was caught by the other team but allowed Dom Costello to score. After the Vulcans tied the game in the fifth, the team exploded for a five-run sixth inning. Trailing by five, Gannon picked up two more runs in the seventh inning. They would not be able to come back as the Golden Knights fell 9-6.
Looking to tie the season series in game four, this would be a low scoring game compared to the earlier three. The Vulcans took an early lead in the second inning after a home run. Smith’s single with two runners on base tied the game in the fourth. Moments later, Hunter Troiano’s hit bounced off the wall while allowing two runners to score. This was a strong fourth inning and boosted the Golden Knights to a big win. Smith’s single tied the game allowing Parker to score. Moments later, Hunter Troiano’s double allowed Smith and Soto to cash in for a two-run lead. California pulled within one, but Ayres closed it out for a 3-2 win on the road.
Gannon begins a four-game series this weekend against Slippery Rock. Each team plays two games at home beginning Friday. The doubleheader begins at Slippery Rock at 1:00PM. The teams will play two games in Erie on Saturday — also starting at 1:00PM at McConnell Family Stadium.
