Box Score vs. No. 22 West Virginia Wesleyan
Box Score vs. UVa-Wise
SALEM, Va. - The Gannon softball team split action at the Salem Invitational held at the Moyers Complex Saturday. The Lady Knights opened the day with a 5-3 upset of the No. 22 West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats followed by a 12-1 loss to the UVa-Wise Cavaliers in five innings. The Lady Knights move to 7-6 on the season, while the Bobcats and Cavaliers each hold a 13-4 overall record.
Following two quick outs to open the game against nationally-ranked West Virginia Wesleyan, senior Kirstie Cortazzo (Jeannette, Pa./Jeannette) put the Lady Knights on the board. Cortazzo belted a solo shot to center for a Lady Knights' 1-0 lead over the 22nd ranked team in the land.
Holding off the Bobcats through the first two innings, the Lady Knights extended their lead to 5-0 in the third. Cortazzo would strike again with an RBI-double to center driving in junior Caitlyn Colucci (Lancaster, N.Y./Sacred Heart). With runners at the corners, junior Jess Rectenwald (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) dropped a two-RBI double into center field. The Lady Knights tacked on their final score with an RBI-single by freshman Jen Moran (West Mifflin, Pa./Fox Chapel), scoring Rectenwald for a 5-0 Lady Knights' lead.
Despite scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh, West Virginia Wesleyan's rally attempt came up short. With the tying run at first and winning run at bat, their hopes went down looking as sophomore Alison Benz (Orchard Park, N.Y./Mount Mercy Academy) fired the ball past the batter to record the last out. The Bobcats were unable to reach third in the entire game until their last at bats.
Cortazzo went 2-for-4 on the day with two RBI and two runs. Rectenwald finished recorded the Lady Knights' other two RBI, going 2-for-3. Cortazzo's recorded a home run and a double, while Rectenwald picked up a double.
In a complete-game effort, Benz struck out four batters to improve to 3-3 on the season. Allowing 12 hits, the sophomore only surrendered one earned run with the other two not against her.
Looking to keep the momentum from their upset of a nationally-ranked opponent, the Lady Knights' offense struggled against UVa-Wise in the second game of the day. The Lady Knights were only able to muster four hits, while the Cavaliers finished with 12 runs off 12 hits.
Leading off in the top of the first, UVa-Wise jumped out to an early 4-0 lead. Starting with a pair of RBI-singles, the Cavaliers' Sarah Beamer found the gap in center field with a two-RBI base hit.
The Lady Knights came back swinging in the bottom half of the inning, but were only able to put one run up on the Cavaliers. Following a double down the leftfield line for Cortazzo, redshirt junior Katie Dunn (Troy, Mich./Troy) drove her in with a single to center.
Tacking on two runs in both the second and third innings, the Cavaliers pushed their lead to 8-1. With the Lady Knights unable to answer in three straight innings, the Cavaliers pushed their advantages to double digits with four runs in the fifth including a two-run single for a12-1 lead and eventual victory in five innings.
Cortazzo went 2-for-2 with one run scored, while Dunn picked up an RBI off one hit.
Rectenwald recorded the loss in 3.0 innings, allowing eight runs off 10 hits.
Gannon concludes the Salem Invitational Sunday against Wheeling Jesuit at 9 a.m.
