ERIE — His numbers didn't look very pretty.

Butler graduate Ian Steighner did not play any varsity baseball his freshman season at Gannon University. He got in nine games as a sophomore — starting four at shortstop — and hit just .077, collecting one hit in 13 at bats.

“To be honest, we never gave him much of a chance to play,” Gannon coach Greg Coleman said. “Once we gave him a chance this year, he ran with it.

“Ian made it very tough to take him out of the lineup.”

The Golden Knights had 14 seniors on their roster this past spring. When a starting infielder got sick, Steighner took his spot in a nine-inning game against Ashland.

He went 2-for-3, delivering a double and a home run. He never stopped hitting from there.

“Teams didn't have any kind of scouting report on me, so I kept rolling with it,” Steighner said.

He wound up starting half of his games at second base, the other half at third. Steighner hit .319, collecting 29 hits in 91 at bats. He also walked 13 times and was hit by a pitch nine times, leading to a gaudy .447 on-basse percentage.

Steighner produced the game-winning hit in the eighth inning of a 4-3 win over Slippery Rock in the final series of the regular season. That win clinched a PSAC Tournament spot for Gannon.

And Steighner wound up earning first team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference honors.

“Ian was the classic utility player for us,” Coleman said. “I would have felt confident playing him at any of the infield positions.

“We could have put him on the mound, in left field ... That kid would do anything to get on the field. He'd run through a wall for you. He's that type of ballplayer, a real throw-back guy.”

Steighner opted for Gannon because of its mechanical engineering program. He is carrying a 3.0 grade point average in that major and was a PSAC Scholar-Athlete his freshman year.

“They have a junior varsity team here that plays against local junior colleges,” Steighner said. “I played on that team my freshman year and a little bit my sophomore season just to stay sharp, to try to get my swing back.”

It definitely came back.

Steighner turned himself into a tough out. When he first cracked the Gannon lineup, he batted ninth in the order. He wound up hitting as high as fifth in the lineup.

“He's not the biggest guy, he's not the fastest guy, he doesn't do anything flashy,” Coleman said. “He was the spark plug we needed.

“I love watching the kid play. I'm thankful we have him back for another year.”

Steighner did not hit a home run throughout his Butler High School career. He knocked three out of the park this year and scored 24 runs.

“I was surprised I hit three home runs — or any after that first one,” he said. “Besides that, I was confident I could play well here once I got the opportunity.”

Gannon lost only four home games all season. The Golden Knights were 31-18 overall, 18-10 in the PSAC, and were ranked as high as fifth in the Atlantic Region. That was the highest region ranking in the program's history.

They went two-and-out in the PSAC Tournament, however.

“We didn't have Ian for that tournament,” Coleman said. “He was hit in the helmet by a pitch in our last regular season game and got a concussion.”

Steighner will be healthy for next season. With those 14 seniors from this year's team gone, he'll be counted on to be a team leader.

“That's something else that will be put on his plate. It comes with being a senior,” Coleman said.

Steighner is ready for it.

“It was a thrill for all of us to play on a team this year that was ranked so high in the region,” he said. “I know I have to be one of the guys leading the way next year.

“You do what it takes to win. It will be fun.”