THE RUNDOWN
Game One Score: at Mercyhurst 6, Gannon 4
Records: GU (14-6, 8-1 PSAC West) | MU (9-14, 3-5 PSAC West)
Game One Box Score
Game One Score: Gannon 12, at Mercyhurst 9 (10 innings)
Records: GU (15-6, 9-1 PSAC West) | MU (9-15, 3-6 PSAC West)
Game Two Box Score
Location: Mercyhurst University Softball Field  |  Erie, Pa.
The Short Story: The Gannon softball team earned a split with Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division rival Mercyhurst Saturday at the MU Softball Field. The Lady Knights dropped a 6-4 decision to the Lakers in game one. The Maroon and Gold bounced back in game two with a 12-9 victory in 10 innings, scoring four runs in the top of the 10th to seal the win. Junior Alyssa Bates (Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield) hit a home run in each game.
 
GAME ONE SCORE: at Mercyhurst 6, Gannon 4
 
HOW IT HAPPENED  |  GAME ONE
- Gannon scored the first run of the game following scoreless first and second innings. With senior Jess Rectenwald (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills) reaching second following a leadoff single, Bates dropped an RBI-double into centerfield to score Rectenwald for a 1-0 Lady Knights' lead.
- Mercyhurst answered in the bottom half of the inning with three runs to take a 3-1 lead. The Lakers tied it up on an RBI-single before taking the two-run advantage on a two-RBI single to center by Kayla Larson.
- The Lady Knights knotted the game back up in the top of the fifth, 3-3. Rectenwald led off the top of the inning with a single before Bates drilled a two-run home run. It marked Bates' fourth home run of the season.
- The Lakers recaptured the lead in the bottom half with three runs on RBI-singles to double up on the Lady Knights, 6-3.  
- In the top of the seventh, Gannon generated one run on an RBI-base hit by Bates into center. The base hit drove in freshman Jackie Martinez (Phoenix, Ariz. / Xavier College Prep) to leave the score at 6-4. With two outs already on the board, the Lady Knights' chance at a rally was fouled out as the Lakers earned the two-run win.
 
GAME NOTES  |  GAME ONE
- Rectenwald and Bates each went 3-for-4. Bates drove in all four Lady Knight runs off a single, double and a home run. Rectenwald scored two of the team's four runs. Sophomore Jen Moran (West Mifflin, Pa. / Fox Chapel) collected a pair of hits including a double.   
- Mercyhurst outhit Gannon by a 13-8 advantage.
- Sophomore Olivia Gumbita (Latrobe, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) (7-2) recorded the loss, surrendering six earned runs off 13 hits. Gumbita struck out six batters on the day and did not allow a walk.
 - Each team picked up an error.
 
GAME TWO SCORE: Gannon 12, at Mercyhurst 9 (10 innings)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED  |  GAME TWO
- Gannon earned a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. With two outs, Moran was able to reach base on a single to center. Next up, Bates sent a two-run shot deep to drive in Moran, recording her second home run of the day and fifth of the season.
- The Lakers tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the second on a two-RBI single to left field by Rachel DiBartolomeo.
- In their next at bat, the Lady Knights tallied four runs to recapture the lead, 6-2. Redshirt senior Katie Dunn (Clarkston, Mich. / Troy) hit a two-RBI double into left to break the stalemate for a 4-2 GU lead. Following a pitching change, the Lady Knights tacked on two more runs off a sacrifice fly by junior Alexa Archambeault (Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads) and an RBI-base hit by junior Rachel deGuia (Canal Fulton, Ohio / Northwest) for the 6-2 advantage.
- Gannon extended its lead to 7-2 in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Martinez. It marked the freshman's first career home run.
- The Lakers managed to score five combined runs in the fourth and fifth innings to tie the game at 7-7.
- Following a scoreless sixth inning by the Lady Knights, the Lakers earned an 8-7 lead on a solo shot from Courtney Brothers.
- Trailing by one heading into their last at bat, the Lady Knights prevented the sweep by their rival. The Lady Knights managed to tie the game at eight all on an RBI-double by Dunn. Looking to stretch the play, Bates was tagged out on a rally throw from left field to third to home.
- The Lakers' chance in the seventh ended quickly on a strikeout and back-to-back groundouts.
- Following scoreless eighth and ninth innings, the Lady Knights earned a 12-8 lead in the tenth inning with four runs off two hits. With Bates placed at second, the Lakers quickly found a pair of runners on base after a walk to Dunn. An RBI-double by Archambeault broke the tie before an RBI-base hit by deGuia pushed the Lady Knights' lead to 10-8. A passed ball scored Archambeault for an 11-8 lead. A groundout to short, allowed the Lady Knights' to add more insurance run as deGuia raced home for the Lady Knights' 12-8 advantage.
- During their turn, the Lakers only managed to score one run in the bottom of the tenth. Three straight groundouts ended the host Lakers' chances of answering the Lady Knights' four runs.   
 
GAME NOTES  |  GAME TWO
- Five Lady Knights finished the day with multiple hits. deGuia went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Archambeault, Dunn, Bates and Moran each collected two hits. Both of Dunn's hits were doubles.
- Bates has recorded a home run in three of her last three games.
- Dunn led the Lady Knights with three RBIs. Joining deGuia with two RBIs were Archambeault and Bates.
- Rectenwald (5-1) earned her fifth consecutive complete-game victory. She struck out six batters in the win. The senior allowed seven earned runs off 14 hits. The Lakers relied on a three-member pitching staff.
- The two teams combined for 27 hits with the Lakers holding a 14-13 advantage at the plate.
- Despite the split with the Lakers, Gannon is still off to its best start in conference play since joining the PSAC in 2009.
 
UP NEXT
Gannon will enjoy a day off before playing three straight doubleheaders in as many days. The Lady Knights' stretch begins with a make-up twinbill at Indiana (Pa.) Monday, April 13. The PSAC Western Division doubleheader will open with game one at 2:30 p.m.