Video Highlights

THE RUNDOWN
Game One Score: at Gannon 5, No. 18 California (Pa.) 4 (9 inn.)
Records: GU (17-7, 11-2 PSAC West) | CAL (16-8, 10-4 PSAC West)
Game One Box Score
Game Two Score: No. 18 California (Pa.) 6, at Gannon 1
Records: GU (17-8, 11-3 PSAC West) | CAL (17-8, 11-4 PSAC West)
Game Two Box Score
Location: Gannon University Field  |  Erie, Pa.
The Short Story: The Gannon softball team captured a 5-4 nine-inning victory over No. 18 California (Pa.) in game one of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Gannon University Field. The nationally-ranked Vulcans took the second game, 6-1, as the teams earned a split in the twinbill. It marked the Lady Knights' first conference win over the Vulcans since joining the PSAC in 2009 and the team's first victory over Cal since 2012.
 
GAME ONE SCORE: at Gannon 5, No. 18 California (Pa.) 4
 
HOW IT HAPPENED  |  GAME ONE
- Gannon and California (Pa.) each scored a run in the first inning. Following a Vulcans' RBI-single by Shelby Heyd in the top half of the inning, sophomore Jen Moran (West Mifflin, Pa. / Fox Chapel) hit her first career home run on a solo shot to tie the game at 1-1.
- The Lady Knights captured a 3-1 lead with back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom of the third. Senior Jess Rectenwald (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills) belted her first home run of the season to take a 2-1 advantage. Forcing a quick pitching change, freshman Jackie Martinez (Phoenix, Ariz. / Xavier College Prep) hit her second long shot of her career to give the Lady Knights a 3-1 lead.
- Cal tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth before taking a 4-3 lead in the ninth on a leadoff home run by Lindsay Reicoff.
- Rectenwald led the ninth with a single before the senior reached second on a Cal throwing error. Two quick outs left Rectenwald stranded at second. A walk to junior Alyssa Bates (Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield) put runners at first and second. Redshirt senior Katie Dunn (Clarkston, Mich. / Troy) dropped an RBI-single into right field to tie the game at 4-4. With runners positioned at the corners, senior Meghan Cunha (Geneva, Ohio / Edgewood) shot an RBI-single through a gap in the left side to score Bates for the 5-4 nine-inning victory.     
 
GAME NOTES  |  GAME ONE
- Eight of the field starters posted at least a hit in the game. Moran and Rectenwald each tallied two hits including a solo home run. Rectenwald, Dunn, Martinez, Cunha and Moran each picked up an RBI.   
- In the loss, the Vulcans outhit the Lady Knights, 13-10.
- Gumbita (9-2) earned the win in four innings of relief work, surrendering just one earned run. She struck out one batter and allowed five hits.  
- Junior Alison Benz (Orchard Park, N.Y. / Mount Mercy Academy) started the game in the circle, pitching five innings. She surrendered three earned runs off eight hits. She also fanned three batters in the start.
- Cal registered two errors, while GU earned one.
 
BEYOND THE BOX | GAME ONE
- Gannon captured its first PSAC win at home over Cal since joining the conference in 2009.
- The Lady Knights also earned their first win over the Vulcans since a 9-4 road victory March 23, 2012.
- The Vulcans entered the doubleheader ranked 18th in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Poll.
- Cal is the top-ranked team in the intitial NCAA Atlantic regional rankings released Wednesday, while Gannon occupies seventh in the regional poll.
 
GAME TWO SCORE: No. 18 California (Pa.) 6, at Gannon 1
 
HOW IT HAPPENED  |  GAME TWO
- California (Pa.) secured a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a two-RBI single by Megan Jahoda hit into the right-center gap.
- The Vulcans tacked on four more runs in the top of the fourth for a 6-0 lead over Gannon. Two of the runs came off a two-RBI double by Heyd.
- The Lady Knights' lone run in the second game came on an RBI-base hit by freshman Allie Salerno (Hamburg, N.Y. / Hamburg) with the Vulcans remaining in the lead 6-1.
 
GAME NOTES  |  GAME TWO
- Gannon finished with four hits in game two compared to the Vulcans' 12 hits. Dunn went 3-for-4 in the nightcap, registering two RBIs. Bates and junior Alexa Archambeault (Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads) also collected two hits.  
- Archambeault hit her eighth double of the season to account for one of the Lady Knights' four hits.
- Rectenwald (5-3) earned the loss in 3 1/3 innings. She allowed six runs with four of the runs earned. The senior struck out three batters.
- Benz and Gumbita each entered in relief. Benz pitched 1 2/3 innings, surrendering zero runs off just two hits. Gumbita picked up a couple strikeouts in two scoreless-innings, allowing just one hit.
 
UP NEXT
Gannon will enjoy the next two days off from PSAC Western Division action. The Lady Knights return to action at Clarion Saturday afternoon. The division doubleheader will open with game one at 1 p.m.