Video Highlights

THE RUNDOWN
Game One Score: Gannon 2, Bloomsburg 0
Records: GU (26-12) | BU (24-15)
Gannon-Bloomsburg Box Score
Game Two Score: Gannon 5, California (Pa.) 4
Records: GU (27-12) | CAL (30-10)
Gannon-California (Pa.) Box Score
Location: Veterans Park | Quakertown, Pa.
The Short Story: Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division third-seeded Gannon softball team opened the PSAC Tournament at Veterans Park Thursday with victories over Eastern Division second-seed Bloomsburg and Western Division top-seed California (Pa.). The Lady Knights captured a 2-0 victory over the second-seeded Huskies to open the day. Later on, the Lady Knights used four runs in the fifth to help the team earn a 5-4 win over the top-seeded Vulcans.
 
GAME ONE SCORE: Gannon 2, Bloomsburg 0
 
HOW IT HAPPENED  |  GAME ONE
- Western Division third-seed Gannon wasted little time in the opening game of the PSAC Tournament against Eastern Division second-seed Bloomsburg, capturing a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. A leadoff single by senior Jess Rectenwald (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills) put the Lady Knights on base followed by a successful bunt by freshman Jackie Martinez (Phoenix, Ariz. / Xavier College Prep).
- The Huskies turned in a double play on a lineout at first with first baseman Caitlin O'Connor touching the bag to tag out Martinez, who couldn't get back in time. Facing two outs, redshirt senior Katie Dunn (Clarkston, Mich. / Troy) ripped an RBI-single up the middle with Rectenwald racing home for the 1-0 lead.
- A quick three up, three down in the bottom half of the inning, kept the Lady Knights' lead intact with Rectenwald retiring the side with a strikeout.
- Over the course of the next five innings, only one combined hit was surrendered. The Huskies accounted for the only hit in the second with a leadoff single.  
- In the bottom of the fifth, the Huskies threatened with runners on first and second as Rectenwald closed down the inning with her fifth strikeout of the game.
- Following a fly out to open the sixth, Dunn hit a double into the left-center gap. Next up, senior Meghan Cunha (Geneva, Ohio / Edgewood) drilled an RBI-double to left field with the ball ricocheting off the wall for a Lady Knights' 2-0 advantage.    
- The Huskies threatened again in the sixth before leaving two runners on base.
- Rectenwald managed to record the complete-game shutout-victory with an unassisted out, tagging the runner in the base path as she tried to reach first.
 
GAME NOTES  |  GAME ONE
- Rectenwald and Dunn each produced two hits. Cunha and Dunn each picked up the Lady Knight RBIs.
- Rectenwald (11-4) earned her fourth straight complete-game victory. She recorded her third shutout this season. The senior held Bloomsburg scoreless on four hits with five strike outs.
- Gannon held a 7-4 hitting advantage against the Huskies. Only one error was committed in the contest by the Huskies.
- For the fourth consecutive year, the Lady Knights faced the Huskies in the opening round of the PSAC Tournament. GU dropped each of the previous meetings, including last year's 5-2 loss.
- The Lady Knights recorded their first win over the Huskies at the PSAC Tournament in four previous games since 2009. GU improved to 2-8 in the all-time series with BU.
 
GAME TWO SCORE: Gannon 5, California (Pa.) 4
 
HOW IT HAPPENED  |  GAME TWO
- California (Pa.) earned a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI-single by Natalya Smarra.
- Gannon erased the Vulcans' one-run advantage with four runs in the fifth for a 4-1 GU lead. Rectenwald led off the top of the inning with a double to center before she advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Martinez. An RBI-base hit by Dunn through the left side drove in Rectenwald, as the Lady Knights tied the game at 1-1.
- A walk to Cunha loaded the bases. A Vulcans' error put the Lady Knights in the lead 2-1, allowing junior Alyssa Bates (Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield) to score on the play.
- Junior Rachel deGuia (Canal Fulton, Ohio / Northwest) found the gap in left center to give GU a 3-1 lead. With the bases loaded, freshman Allie Salerno (Hamburg, N.Y. / Hamburg) kept the march home going with an RBI-single up the middle. Looking to stretch the play into two runs, junior Alexa Archambeault (Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads) was tagged out on the play after Cunha gave the Lady Knights a 4-1 lead.
- In the top of the sixth, the Lady Knights tacked on one more run for a 5-1 advantage. Rectenwald drilled a solo shot to dead center for GU's four-run lead.
- The Vulcans' attempt at a rally came one-run short. Facing the bases loaded with two outs, Rectenwald entered the game in relief of sophomore starter Olivia Gumbita (Latrobe, Pa. / Greater Latrobe). Gumbita struck out 10 Vulcans in 6 2/3 innings, marking the fourth time she has fanned double-digit batters. The Vulcans managed to score three runs in their last effort before Rectenwald held on to the win with a ground out to shortstop.
 
GAME NOTES  |  GAME TWO
- Dunn went a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI. Rectenwald and Martinez collected a pair of hits each with Rectenwald registering a double and a home run.
- The Lady Knights outhit the Vulcans, 11-7.
- The Vulcans were credited with two errors and the Lady Knights picked up one.
- Gumbita (13-4) collected the win, striking out 10 batters. She surrendered three earned runs on six hits. In 1/3 inning of relief work, Rectenwald allowed zero earned runs on one hit.
- The postseason series between the two squads at the PSAC Tournament is now tied at 1-1. The Vulcans hold a 33-5 all-time mark against the Lady Knights.
- The Vulcans received votes in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Poll. Cal also occupies the third spot in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic regional rankings.
 
UP NEXT
Gannon will look to keep its run in the PSAC Tournament rolling Friday when the team faces Eastern Division top-seed West Chester. The first pitch is set for 4 p.m.