Video Highlights

THE RUNDOWN
Game One Score: at Gannon 8, Mercyhurst 1
Records: GU (11-5, 5-0 PSAC West) | CU (6-10, 0-1 PSAC West)
Game One Box Score
Game Two Score: at Gannon 8, Mercyhurst 0 (5 innings)
Records: GU (12-5, 6-0 PSAC West) | CU (6-11, 0-2 PSAC West)
Game Two Box Score
Location: Gannon University Field  |  Erie, Pa.
The Short Story: The Gannon softball team remains unbeaten in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division action and at home following a sweep of rival Mercyhurst Wednesday at Gannon University Field. The Lady Knights surrendered just one run to the Lakers between the two games. GU opened the day with an 8-1 victory in game one before shutting out the Lakers by the score of 8-0 in five innings in game two. Improving to 6-0 in PSAC Western Division action, the Lady Knights are off to their best start in divisional play since joining the conference in 2009.
 
GAME ONE SCORE: at Gannon 8, Mercyhurst 1
 
HOW IT HAPPENED  |  GAME ONE
- Gannon captured a 5-0 lead over Mercyhurst in the bottom of the opening frame. Posting five walks in the first inning, the Lakers' pitching staff walked the first three runs in. Junior Alexa Archambeault (Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads) drove in an RBI-single to push the Lady Knights' lead to 4-0 before a ground out second allowed the fifth GU run to cross home.
- Five of the first six Laker outs were recorded with strikeouts by sophomore Olivia Gumbita (Latrobe, Pa. / Greater Latrobe). The Lakers threatened early in the first before Gumbita left the runners stranded at first and second with back-to-back strikeouts.
- After opening the second with another walk, the Lakers were forced to change pitchers. Starting pitcher Annie Truelove posted six walks in the 11 batters she faced.
- The Lady Knights extended their lead to 8-0 in the bottom of the fourth. After leading off with a single by freshman Jackie Martinez (Phoenix, Ariz. / Xavier College Prep), the Lady Knights quickly found themselves with two outs on the board. Next up, redshirt senior Katie Dunn (Clarkston, Mich. / Troy) crushed a shot over the center-field wall to drive in Martinez for a 7-0 lead. Later in the inning, junior Rachel deGuia (Canal Fulton, Ohio / Northwest) picked up an RBI-base hit to secure an 8-0 lead.
- With a chance to capture the team's third straight win by the eight-run mercy rule, the Lakers' Shannon Minihane sent a solo shot over the center-field wall to score the visitor's first run, 8-1, in the top of the fifth.
 
GAME NOTES  |  GAME ONE
- Seven Lady Knights recorded a hit in the win. Dunn went 1-for-2 with three RBI and two runs scored. She also added two walks. deGuia recorded two RBI with a walk. Moran and Martinez scored two runs each.
- Moran collected her seventh double of the season. Dunn hit her first home run of the season and second of her career.
- Gumbita (6-1) captured the complete-game win, allowing one run off seven hits. She posted nine strikeouts in the victory and walked zero batters compared to the Lakers' 10 combined walks as a pitching staff.
- Gannon and Mercyhurst each finished with seven hits.
 
GAME TWO SCORE: at Gannon 8, Mercyhurst 0 (5 innings)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED  |  GAME TWO
- Following a scoreless opening frame, Gannon tallied the first run of game two in the bottom of the second. Singles by sophomore Jen Moran (West Mifflin, Pa. / Fox Chapel) and deGuia put runners on base. Facing two outs, freshman Allie Salerno (Hamburg, N.Y. / Hamburg) dropped an RBI-single in the left-center gap for a 1-0 Lady Knights' lead.
- Gannon exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the fourth to seal the fifth-inning victory on the mercy rule. With runners at second and third, Salerno scored the Lady Knights' first two runs on a two-RBI single to score Archambeault and senior Meghan Cunha (Geneva, Ohio / Edgewood) for a 3-0 advantage.
- A single by freshman Kaylyn Shaughnessy (Barrie, Ontario / Bear Creek Secondary) put runners at the corners. Senior Jess Rectenwald (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills) sent an RBI-base hit up the middle to push the Lady Knights' lead to 4-0. A catcher's interference reloaded the bases. After picking up the second out, Moran drove in two runs for a 6-0 advantage. Next up, Cunha doubled to left field to tack on two more runs for an 8-0 lead late, scoring Martinez and Moran scored.  
- The Lakers' offensive chances came to a screeching halt on a double play in the top of the fifth.
 
GAME NOTES  |  GAME TWO
- Salerno went a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBI and a run scored. Moran and Cunha also collected a pair of hits each. Moran also picked up two runs scored.
- Eight Lady Knights recorded at least one run with three multiple hits
- Rectenwald (3-1) shutout the Lakers in five innings, striking out two Lakers. She allowed five hits and walked zero batters.
- Gannon outhit Mercyhurst by an advantage of 11-5. Each team recorded an error.
- Opening the season with six consecutive wins to open the season at GU Field, the Lady Knights are off to their best start since the 2006 season. GU won eight straight that season.
 
UP NEXT
Gannon's stretch of four PSAC Western Division doubleheaders in as many days continues with a trip to Slippery Rock April 2. Game one is set to begin at 1 p.m.