ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon softball team scored eight runs against California (Pa.) but fell twice to the 24th team in the country by scores of 3-2 and 13-6 in Thursday's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) doubleheader at Gannon University Field.
The Lady Knights held a 2-0 lead in the first game, only to see the Vulcans earn the win by scoring once in the fourth inning and twice in the fifth.
Gannon struck early after manufacturing a run in the first inning. After Jaleesa Sledge (Olean, N.Y. / Olean) walked, Katie Killian (Akron, Ohio / St. Vincenet-St. Mary) moved her over to second with a ground-out. Katie Dunn (Troy, Mich. / Troy) provided the key hit with a single up the middle that plated the speedy Sledge from second.
Sledge scored again in the third inning, trotting around the bases a little slower this time after a her long blast easily cleared the left field fence. The junior's third home run of the year put Gannon up 2-0 after three innings.
Cal cut the lead to one in the fourth inning. After the first two batters reached base Kristen McKenzie doubled to left field, plating one run. Megan Dragon (Ashtabula, Ohio / Edgewood) held the Vulcans to one run, forcing a pop-up with runners on second and third to end the inning.
The Vulcans took the lead in the next inning when Jillian Russell's ninth home run of the season gave California the 3-2 lead.
The Lady Knights had runners on in both the fifth and sixth innings, but were unable to score another run off California's Hope Spancake.
Dunn, Sledge, Kirstie Cortazzo (Jeannette, Pa. / Jeannette) and Ashley Petrone (Uniontown, Pa. / Albert Gallatin) accounted for Gannon's four hits in the game. Dragon scattered seven hits in the complete game effort, recording nine strikeouts in the loss.
In the nightcap, California took an early 4-0 lead before Gannon rallied in the bottom of the second. After an error and a walk, Kelly Trace (Columbus, Ohio / Bishop Hartley) singled through the right side to load the bases. Sledge stepped to the plate and sent the first pitch of the at bat over the center field fence for her second home run of the day. Gannon's first grand slam of the season tied the game at four.
Gannon added a run in the third and the sixth on solo home runs from Rachel Meyer (Wayland, N.Y. / Wayland-Cohocton) and Killian respectively. However, California added one in the fourth and then exploded for six runs in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach for Gannon.
The Lady Knights loaded the bases with three singles in the bottom of the seventh, but a ground-out ended the game, giving Cal the 13-6 win.
Sam Scott (New Balitmore, Mich. / Anchor Bay) and Trace both finished with two hits for Gannon.
After just 11 hits between the two teams in the first game, the second game featured 25 hits and 24 runners left on base combined. In total, four of Gannon's 13 hits in the doubleheader were home runs.
Gannon falls to 13-13 this season with a 2-6 mark in the PSAC-West. California remains undefeated in conference play at 6-0 and improved to 21-7 overall this season. Gannon returns to action tomorrow when the Lady Knights take on Slippery Rock at 2:30 p.m.
For complete box scores from today's Gannon-California softball doubleheader, please click below.
Gannon-California (Game 1)
Gannon-California (Game 2)
