THE RUNDOWN
Game One Score: Gannon 18, at Clarion 3 (5 inn.)
Records: GU (18-8, 12-3 PSAC West) | CU (5-24, 4-19 PSAC West)
Game One Box Score
Game Two Score: Gannon 4, at Clarion 1
Records: GU (19-8, 13-3 PSAC West) | CU (5-25, 4-20 PSAC West)
Game Two Box Score
Location: Memorial Stadium Complex | Clarion, Pa.
The Short Story: The Gannon softball team swept its regular-season series with Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division opponent Clarion Saturday at Memorial Field. The Lady Knights dominated in game one with an 18-3 five-inning victory over the Golden Eagles. Game two was a pitcher's duel, as the Lady Knights captured a 4-1 win to sweep the host Golden Eagles.
 
GAME ONE SCORE: Gannon 18, at Clarion 3 (5 inn.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED  |  GAME ONE
- Gannon captured a 6-0 lead in the top of the third. A base hit from senior Jess Rectenwald (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills) and a double from freshman Jackie Martinez (Phoenix, Ariz. / Xavier College Prep) put runners in scoring position to lead off the inning. A two-RBI double by sophomore Jen Moran (West Mifflin, Pa. / Fox Chapel) scored the first runs of the game for a 2-0 lead.
- On a Clarion error, the Lady Knights tacked on another run for a 3-0 advantage. A single by junior Alexa Archambeault (Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads) loaded the bases with junior Rachel deGuia (Canal Fulton, Ohio / Northwest) dropping a two-RBI double into center field to give the Lady Knights a 5-0 lead. The Lady Knights added one more run on the final play of the inning to earn a 6-0 advantage.
- Clarion answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning on a pair of RBI-base hits.
- A Golden Eagles' pitching change opened the fourth before the Lady Knights ripped off seven runs for a 13-2 lead. An RBI-single to left from junior Alyssa Bates (Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield) opened the Lady Knights' scoring, driving in Rectenwald. Next up, redshirt senior Katie Dunn (Clarkston, Mich. / Troy) labeled a shot into right field to allow to more runs to score on a two-RBI double for a 9-2 lead. An RBI-single to center by senior Meghan Cunha (Geneva, Ohio / Edgewood) recorded another run. Batting around the order, Rectenwald drilled a three-RBI triple into right field as the Lady Knights took a 13-2 lead.
- The Golden Eagles' final and third run in the game came off a leadoff home run to start the fourth inning.
- Moran opened the fifth inning with a double to put the Lady Knights on base. An RBI-single by Bates drove in Moran from second to push the Lady Knights' advantage to 14-3. Cunha kept the runs rolling in with an RBI-single before Archambeault picked up an RBI-double. The final two GU runs came on a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly by Rectenwald to seal the 18-3 five-inning victory over the Golden Eagles.
 
GAME NOTES  |  GAME ONE
- Rectenwald, Cunha, Dunn and Archambeault all went 3-for-4. Rectenwald compiled four RBIs and Cunha finished with three. Moran recorded two doubles with Dunn, Archambeault, deGuia and Martinez also picking up a double.
- The Lady Knights outhit the Golden Eagles, 18-6.
- Sophomore starter Olivia Gumbita (Latrobe, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) (10-2) earned her third straight victory. Only seeing three innings in the five-inning game, Gumbita struck out seven batters. She allowed two earned runs on four hits.  
- Junior reliever Alison Benz (Orchard Park, N.Y. / Mount Mercy Academy) pitched two innings, surrendering one run off two hits. She struck out one batter.
- The Golden Eagles recorded four errors to the Lady Knights' one error.
 
BEYOND THE BOX | GAME ONE
- The Lady Knights' 18 runs marked the most in a game since March 20, 2009, in an 18-1 win over host Salem International.
- The 15-run margin of victory in game one against the Golden Eagles was also the widest margin by GU since its win over Salem International in 2009.
- In addition, the Maroon and Gold's 18 total hits against Clarion marked the most since the team's win at Salem International when GU collected 19 hits.
 
GAME TWO SCORE: Gannon 4, at Clarion 1
 
HOW IT HAPPENED  |  GAME TWO
- Clarion earned the first lead of the game on a Gannon error in the third inning. Following a wild pitch, the Golden Eagles' lone run was scored on an error at third for a 1-0 lead.
- Gannon answered back in the top of the fourth with a sacrifice fly by Cunha to tie the game at 1-1.
- Rectenwald gave the Lady Knights a 2-1 lead in the fifth on an RBI-single with the senior reaching second on the throw to score freshman Allie Salerno (Hamburg, N.Y. / Hamburg).
- The Lady Knights sealed the 4-1 win on a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly by Bates.
 
GAME NOTES  |  GAME TWO
- In the pitcher's duel, each team registered just five hits.
- deGuia led Gannon's offense with two hits. Cunha, Bates, Moran and Rectenwald drove in runs.
- Rectenwald (6-3) secured the win in a complete-game effort. She allowed one run on five hits, striking out three batters.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE | GAME TWO
- Three of the Lady Knights' four wins against the Golden Eagles this season came in shortened contests. The Lady Knights opened the series at home March 30, with a pair of six-inning victories over the Golden Eagles, 10-2, and 11-3.
 
UP NEXT
Gannon returns to action with a home-and-home series April 21-22, against PSAC Western Division opponent Slippery Rock. The series opens at GU Field April 21, at 2:30 p.m.