Video Highlights

THE RUNDOWN
Game One Score: California (Pa.) 8, Gannon 5
Records: GU (28-13) | CAL (34-10)
Game One Box Score
Game Two Score: California (Pa.) 3, Gannon 2
Records: GU (28-14) | CAL (35-10)
Game Two Box Score
Location: Veterans Park | Quakertown, Pa.
The Short Story: Then there were two. Featuring two teams from the Western Division, the Gannon softball team made its first appearance in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship Saturday at Veterans Park in Quakertown, Pa. The Lady Knights fell to the reigning champion and division top-seed California (Pa.) twice to record a runner-up finish. GU fell in game one, 8-5, as the Vulcans rallied with seven runs in the sixth inning for the win. The Lady Knights were edged, 3-2, in the final contest on a late score in the seventh inning. The Lady Knights scored first in each game.
 
GAME ONE SCORE: California (Pa.) 8, Gannon 5
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Gannon opened the game's scoring with a 1-0 lead over California (Pa.) in the bottom of the second. Senior Meghan Cunha (Geneva, Ohio / Edgewood) led the inning off with a single up the middle. A walk from junior Rachel deGuia (Canal Fulton, Ohio / Northwest) and an intentional walk to senior Jess Rectenwald (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills) loaded the bases for the Lady Knights. With two outs on the board, freshman Jackie Martinez (Phoenix, Ariz. / Xavier College Prep) moved the bases around with another walk to give GU the 1-0 lead.
- Holding the one-run advantage, the Lady Knights pushed their lead to 4-0 with a trio of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Pinch-running for redshirt senior Katie Dunn (Clarkston, Mich. / Troy), junior Sarah DiOrio (Hunker, Pa. / Hempfield Area) worked her way around the bases. An RBI-single by Cunha scored DiOrio as she beat the throw at home for a 2-0 Lady Knights' lead.
- Back-to-back RBI-doubles from junior Alexa Archambeault (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) and freshman Allie Salerno (Hamburg, N.Y. / Hamburg) extended the Lady Knights' lead to 4-0.
- The Vulcans' rallied in the top of the sixth with seven runs, erasing the Lady Knights' four-run lead. Collecting eight hits in the process, Cal managed to score five of their seven runs while facing two outs. The Vulcans tied the game at 2-2 on a two-RBI double to right center before rattling off the five runs for a 7-4 lead.
- In the bottom half of the sixth, the Lady Knights scored one run on an RBI-double by Cunha to put the score at 7-5. The Vulcans tacked on a run in the top of the seventh with a solo shot from Hailey Wilson for an 8-5 lead and eventual victory.
- Entering in the sixth, Vulcan reliever Alex Sagl collected her fifth save. She struck out the last two batters she faced in the seventh to preserve the Vulcans' win, forcing a rematch with the Lady Knights to settle the conference title.
 
GAME NOTES
- Cunha led the Lady Knights at the plate, going 3-for-4. She recorded two of the Lady Knights' RBIs and two of the team's runs. She collected her seventh double of the season.
- Archambeault and Salerno also posted doubles.
- Rectenwald's hit streak of 10 games came to an end in the contest.
- California (Pa.) outhit Gannon by an advantage of 10-8. The two squads combined for five errors with three credited to the Lady Knights.
- Rectenwald (12-5) dropped her first decision after recording five straight complete-game victories. She allowed six earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. Sophomore Olivia Gumbita (Latrobe, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) and junior Alison Benz (Orchard Park, N.Y. / Mount Mercy Academy) each appeared in relief work with Benz picking up a strikeout.
 
GAME TWO SCORE: California (Pa.) 3, Gannon 2
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Gannon once again took a 1-0 lead over California (Pa.), this time around in the second. The Lady Knights broke the scoreless contest in the bottom of the third. A lineout to center opened the third for the Lady Knights before Martinez sent a triple down the right-field line. An RBI-single to deep center Bates allowed Martinez to score on the play for a one-run GU lead.
- The Lady Knights held the Vulcans scoreless in the first four innings before Cal got on the board in the fifth. Taking a 2-1 lead in the game, Cal's first score came on a wild pitch to tie the contest at one each. A sacrifice fly to left field allowed Lindsey Reicoff to score from third as the Vulcans earned the one-run lead.
- In the bottom of the sixth, sophomore Jen Moran (West Mifflin, Pa. / Fox Chapel) hit fourth home run of the season with a solo shot to tie the game at 2-2.
- Reicoff struck in the top of the seventh with an RBI-single up the middle. Running from second, Kaity Finley managed to beat the tag at home on the relay throw from center field to give the Vulcans a 3-2 lead and eventual win.
- The Vulcans managed to force the Lady Knights into a three up, three down seventh-inning to capture their eighth PSAC title in program history.

GAME NOTES
- Each team posted seven hits in the game.
- Bates produced a pair of hits with an RBI to lead the Lady Knights' offense. Rectenwald, Martinez, Moran, Archambeault and deGuia each collected a hit.
- Gumbita (13-5) recorded the loss in six innings. She allowed three earned runs on six hits. Rectenwald made a one-inning relief appearance in the seventh, surrendering one hit.
 
BEYOND THE BOX
- California (Pa.) received votes in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Poll.
- The Vulcans own the second spot in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic regional rankings, while the Lady Knights are seventh.
- For the second straight season, Cal emerged out of the consolation bracket to capture the conference title. Last season, the Vulcans defeated Shippensburg twice to earn the crown.
- Joining the PSAC in 2009, the Lady Knights made their first appearance in the conference championship game. For the Lady Knights, it was their best showing at the conference tournament, posting a 3-2 mark. The three wins all came against higher seeded teams including Eastern Division top-seed West Chester and second-seed Bloomsburg. The other victory came against Western Division third-seed California (Pa.).
- GU moved to 6-10 all-time at the PSAC Tournament.
- Collectively hitting .299 in five games at the PSAC Tournament, the Lady Knights ranked second among the eight teams in the field. GU posted the most extra-base hits, compiling eight doubles, a triple and five home runs. The team's five home runs matched California (Pa.).
- Among individual leaders at the conference tournament, Cunha ranked third among batters with more than nine at bats. She hit a combined .500 (7-for-14) in the tournament. Rectenwald led the tournament with three doubles, while.Moran shared first with two home runs.
- Gumbita registered 16 strikeouts to rank third followed by Rectenwald in fourth with 15.
 
UP NEXT
Gannon will look to clinch an at-large bid to the NCAA Atlantic Regional May 8-10. The location and field of the potential regional will be announced during the NCAA Selection Show Monday at 10 a.m. The live announcement may be viewed at NCAA.com.