ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon softball team was swept by No. 22 California (Pa.) in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) doubleheader action at Gannon University Field Monday. The Lady Knights opened the day with a 12-3 loss to the West Division leading Vulcans in six innings before falling in the nightcap, 9-0, in five innings. The Lady Knights dropped to 15-19 on the season and 8-12 in divisional action, while the Vulcans improved to 27-4 and remain undefeated in divisional play at 20-0.

Playing for the second time in doubleheader action within four days, the Vulcans earned a sweep in the regular-season series. On April 18, the host Vulcans defeated the Lady Knights by the score of 6-4 and 9-1 in a five-inning affair. The Lady Knights led 4-2 in game one before a four-run explosion by the Vulcans in the fifth inning allowed the hosts to rally for the win.  

Holding a 3-0 lead following the top of the second, the Vulcans doubled their lead in the third with a three-RBI home run by Natalya Smarra.

Trailing 6-0 heading into the bottom of the third, the Lady Knights broke the scoreless drought against the nationally-ranked Vulcans. Dropping a single into center to open the inning, sophomore Rachel deGuia (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Northwest) managed to score the Lady Knights' first tally with sacrifice fly by senior Kirstie Cortazzo (Jeannette, Pa./Jeannette).

Racking up four runs in the top of the fourth, the Vulcans pushed their lead to 10-1. Junior Meghan Cunha (North Kingsville, Ohio/Edgewood) hit an RBI-double in the bottom half of the inning.

Holding the Vulcans scoreless in the fifth, sophomore Alyssa Bates (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) sent an RBI-single in the bottom of the inning to tally the Lady Knights' final run of the game to put the game at 10-3, escaping the eight-run mercy rule.

Following leadoff back-to-back home runs to left field by the Vulcans' Shelby Lia and Breanna Morris pushed the team's lead to 12-3.

The Lady Knights closed the game with a three up, three down sixth inning to seal the 12-3 victory in six innings on the eight-run mercy rule.

Junior Jess Rectenwald (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Going a perfect 2-for-2, Cortazzo picked up an RBI. Bates and Cunha picked up the other two RBI.

Freshman starter Olivia Gumbita (Lartobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) fell to 4-5 on the season in 3.0 innings. Gumbita allowed six runs with five earned on six hits. The freshman struck out four batters in her appearance.

In the nightcap, the Vulcans tallied a run in each inning en route to the 9-0 five-inning shortened game.

Holding a 2-0 lead, the Vulcans pushed their lead to 5-0 with three runs in the top of the third including a double down the leftfield line by Shelby Heyd.

The Vulcans nabbed a pair of runs in the next two innings before sealing the 9-0 win in the top of the fifth off a two-run shot over the center-field fence by Megan Jahoda.

The Lady Knights finished the nightcap with two hits including one by Bates and freshman Rachel Zimmers (Wyandotte, Mich./Theodore Roosevelt).

Rectenwald dropped to 8-6 on the season through 3.0 innings in the circle. The junior surrendered five runs with four earned against, while allowing eight hits.

Gannon returns to action April 24 with a road series at conference opponent Clarion. Game one is set for 2:30 p.m. followed by the nightcap at approximately 4:30 p.m.