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CALIFORNIA, Pa. - Facing the top-two teams in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division on back-to-back days, the Gannon softball team suffered its second straight sweep. Division leader California (Pa.) captured the series win with a 6-4 rally in the opener before defeating the Lady Knights by the score of 9-1 in the nightcap on an eight-run mercy rule in five innings. The Lady Knights fell to 14-16 overall and 7-9 in PSAC play, while the Vulcans improved to 23-4 on the season and 16-0 in conference action.

The series featured the annual National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) StrikeOut Cancer event. The two teams joined together in the fight against breast cancer by raising awareness and support for women's cancer research.

The Vulcans used their first time at bat in the opener to capture a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Scoring the opening run off a double to left center, the Vulcans capitalized on a Lady Knights' throwing error to push their lead to 2-0.

In the top of the second inning, the Lady Knights struck back with a pair of runs to tie the game at 2-2. Off a fielding error at shortstop, the Lady Knights loaded the bases. Next up, junior Jess Rectenwald (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) drilled a shot down the right-field line, driving in both sophomore Rachel deGuia (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Northwest) and redshirt junior Katie Dunn (Troy, Mich./Troy).

Looking to take their first lead of the day, a hit by pitch reloaded the bases. However, the Lady Knights' chances went down swinging leaving three runners on base.

The Lady Knights managed to establish a 4-2 lead over the Vulcans in the top of the fourth with a pair of runs. Rectenwald endured a hit by pitch before senior Kirstie Cortazzo (Jeannette, Pa./Jeannette) drilled a shot over the center-field fence to hand the Lady Knights a two-run lead. The bomb was Cortazzo's fourth of the season.

Trailing by two, the Vulcans wrestled the lead back from the Lady Knights with a four-run fifth inning. The Vulcans inched within a run of the Lady Knights' lead off a RBI-double down the left-field line by Breanna Morris. Next up, Stephani Ellis ripped a three-RBI shot over the center-field wall to give the Vulcans a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth.

Despite having runners on the corners in the top of the sixth, the Lady Knights were not able to tie the game once again. The Lady Knights left two runners on base with a ground out to third.

The Lady Knights closed the game in the top of the seventh with a three up, three down showing.

Rectenwald went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Cortazzo finished with a pair of RBI off her single hit in the contest, a two-run home run. Eight out of nine batters in the starting lineup managed to collect at least one hit.

The Lady Knights were able to outhit the Vulcans by a nine to eight advantage.

Falling to 3-7 on the season, sophomore Alison Benz (Orchard Park, N.Y./Mount Mercy Academy) earned the loss in a complete-game effort. Benz allowed six runs with five earned off eight hits.

The Lady Knights dropped a 9-1 loss to the Vulcans in the nightcap. The Vulcans secured a 6-0 lead by the end of the second inning.

In the bottom of the first, the Vulcans earned a 2-0 lead with a two-RBI double down the right-field line by Ellis. The Vulcans tallied four runs in the bottom of the second including two off a two-run home run by Shelby Lia.

The Lady Knights scored their only run in game two in the top of the fourth. Rectenwald led off with a double to right center moving over to third after a ground out. Cortazzo sent a shot down the right-field line to drive in Rectenwald.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Vulcans tacked on three runs to earn an eight-run lead. The Lady Knights came up empty in their last at-bat, handing the Vulcans a 9-1 win on a mercy rule.

Rectenwald and Cortazzo each went 1-for-2. Cortazzo drove in the Lady Knights' lone run.

Making her first career start, freshman Amanda Witzlib (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) collected the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season. Witzlib surrendered six runs off seven hits. Three of the six runs earned against the freshman were unearned. In the 2.0 innings of relief, freshman Kalie Rzodkiewicz (Harbor Creek, Pa./Harbor Creek) allowed three runs off three hits.      

Gannon concludes the three-day stretch of consecutive doubleheaders at rival Mercyhurst April 19. Game one is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. followed by the nightcap at approximately 3 p.m.