Box Score - Game One

Box Score - Game Two

CALIFORNIA, Pa. - Each team earned a win in their final at bat as the Gannon softball team split a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) doubleheader Friday afternoon. The Lady Knights earned a 9-4 extra-inning win behind two home runs from Kirstie Cortazzo (Jeannette, Pa. / Jeannette) before dropping the second game by a 2-1 score.

The Gannon softball team battled to extra innings during the first game with California (Pa.), eventually earning the win after plating five runs in the top of the eighth inning. Cortazzo opened the scoring for the Lady Knights with a solo home run in the top of the first. The Vulcans answered back in the bottom of the third inning with a solo shot from Katie Natter.

The scoring halted until the fifth inning when each team broke open for three runs. The Lady Knights put together a three-run inning with RBIs added by Jess Rectenwald (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills), Megan Cunha (North Kingsville, Ohio / Edgewood) and Katie Killian (Akron, Ohio / St. Vincent-St. Mary). However, the Vulcans scored three runs after the Lady Knights issued three walks, tying the game at four. 

Each team had runners on in the final two innings but failed to plate the go-ahead run, forcing extra innings. Gannon wasted no time in the eighth, exploding for five runs in the top half. Killian opened with a single before Caitlyn Colucci (Lancaster, N.Y. / Sacred Heart) walked. A single from Julie Hagner (Boston, N.Y. / Hamburg) then loaded the bases. Jaleesa Sledge (Olean, N.Y. / Olean) added a run with an RBI single before Cortazzo's second home run of the game cleared the bases and gave Gannon a 9-5 lead. 

Megan Dragon (Ashtabula, Ohio / Edgewood) struck out two in the bottom half of the inning to earn the win. The junior picked up the win after pitching 3 2/3 innings, striking out seven and allowing just three base runners. Erica Bartholow (Connellsville, Pa. / Connellsville Area) provided 4 1/3 innings of solid work, allowing three hits and striking out three. 

For the game Cortazzo was 3-for-5 with five RBIs. Sam Scott (New Baltimore, Mich. / Anchor Bay), Hagner and Sledge all added two hits in the win.

The nightcap featured more of a pitcher's dual as neither team plated a run until the sixth inning. Rectenwald made the start, allowing just one hit through the first three innings. However, two walks to open the fourth inning prompted head coach Tom Jakubowski to make the switch on the mound to Dragon. The junior worked out of the jam, leaving the game scoreless.

The Lady Knights loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, converting the scoring opportunity to a 1-0 lead after an error by California (Pa.). The Vulcans left two runners on in the bottom of the sixth before Gannon went one-two-three in the top of the seventh.

However the Vulcan's rallied in the bottom of the seventh. The first two Vulcan's reached with a walk and a single before Dragon recorded a strikeout. Another single loaded the bases for Jillian Russell, who provided the game-tying hit. After another strikeout, Shelby Heyd won the game for California (Pa.) with a two-out single. 

Dragon took the loss after allowing the two earned runs over 3 2/3 innings of work. She struck out four and walked just one. Gannon finished with three hits recorded by Rectenwald, Killian and Cortazzo.

The Lady Knights record stands at 14-7 overall with a 1-1 mark in the PSAC. California is 18-4 overall and also 1-1 in conference. 

Gannon host Indiana (Pa.) in the home opener tomorrow at 1 p.m.