Autumn Smith
Jeffrey Benz
Freshman Autumn Smith's bases-clearing double in the sixth inning of the opener gave Gannon a 5-2 victory against Point Park.
2
Point Park PPUSB16 16-17
5
Winner Gannon University GAN 18-15
Point Park PPUSB16
16-17
2
Final
5
Gannon University GAN
18-15
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Point Park PPUSB16 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 10 1
Gannon University GAN 1 0 1 0 0 3 X 5 6 1

W: Gumbita, Olivia (11-7) L: Ashley Iagnemma (7-8)

7
Winner Point Park PPUSB16 17-17
3
Gannon University GAN 18-16
Winner
Point Park PPUSB16
17-17
7
Final
3
Gannon University GAN
18-16
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Point Park PPUSB16 0 0 4 0 0 0 3 7 15 1
Gannon University GAN 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 7 1

W: Hannah Harley (8-7) L: Benz, Alison (1-3) S: Erica Burns (3)

Next Game:

California University of Pennsylvania

4/23/2016 | 3:00 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Apr. 23 (Sat) / 3:00 PM
 California University of Pennsylvania

Game Recap: Softball | | Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Softball Team Splits Final Non-Conference Games of the Season; Gumbita Records 300th Career Strikeout

THE RUNDOWN
  • Game One Score: at Gannon 5, Point Park 2
  • Game Two Score: Point Park 7, at Gannon 3
  • Records: Gannon (18-16), Point Park (17-17)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - McConnell Family Stadium
  • The Short Story: Freshman Autumn Smith's (Branchville, N.J./High Point Regional) bases-clearing double in the sixth inning snapped a 2-2 tie and spurred the Gannon softball team to a 5-2 victory Tuesday afternoon in the opener of a non-conference doubleheader against Point Park at McConnell Family Stadium. The Pioneers regrouped for a 7-3 win in the nightcap to earn the split.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE
  • Gannon took a 2-0 lead with single runs during the first and third innings. Junior Jen Moran's (West Mifflin, Pa./Fox Chapel) fourth home run of the season accounted for the first run.
  • Sophomore Allie Salerno (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg) led off the third with a single to right center. Sophomore Jackie Martinez (Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier College Prep) then reached first base on a throwing error. Salerno was able to circle the bases after the errant throw sailed down the right field line.
  • Point Park rallied to tie the contest with back-to-back doubles in the fourth and Shannon Davis' two-out home run during the top of the sixth inning.
  • Gannon scored the winning runs during the bottom of the frame. Moran and senior Alyssa Bates (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) singled, before sophomore Nathaly Pacheco (Rialto, Calif./Eisenhower) was hit by a pitch. Smith followed with a three-run double to left center.
  • Junior Olivia Gumbita (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) made the runs stand up and ended the game with a perfect seventh inning.

GAME NOTES - GAME ONE
  • Moran went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.
  • Four other Lady Knights recorded a hit.
  • Gumbita allowed two runs while going the distance on the mound. She struck out six and walked none.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gumbita tossed her 18th complete game of the campaign and 41st of her career.
  • Tuesday represented Gannon's first non-conference game since March 13 at the Salem Invitational.
  • Gumbita moved into a tie with Jess Rectenwald (2012-15) for ninth place all-time at Gannon with her 32nd career victory.
  • Moran produced her sixth multiple-hit game of the season and scored multiple runs for the fourth time.
  • Gumbita recorded her 300th career strikeout during the second inning.
  • Smith had three RBIs in a game for the first time.
  • Gumbita didn't walk a batter for the ninth time in 2016.

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO
  • Gannon drew first blood in the nightcap during the second. Freshman Samantha Rivera (Wallkill, N.Y./Wallkill) reached on an error, before coming around to score on consecutive singles by senior Sarah DiOrio (Hunker, Pa./Hempfield Area) and junior Jenn Krider (Conneaut Lake, Pa./Linesville).
  • Point Park responded with four runs during the top of the third inning. The Pioneers recorded five hits while sending eight batters to the plate.
  • The visitors extended their lead to 7-1 with three runs during the top of the seventh.
  • Gannon attempted to stage one last rally during the bottom of the seventh. The Lady Knights scored twice on an RBI single by Smith and sacrifice fly by Pacheco. The squad brought the tying run to the plate after loading the bases, but was unable to dent the scoreboard again.

GAME NOTES - GAME TWO
  • Smith, sophomore Katie Eckelberry (Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) and Krider recorded two hits each.
  • Senior Alison Benz (Orchard Park, N.Y./Mount Mercy Academy) posted her third complete game while making her first start since March 3. She struck out one and walked none.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon and Point Park were meeting for the first time since 2012.
  • The Pioneers made their first appearance in Erie since 2011.
  • Tuesday represented Gannon's final non-conference games of the year.
  • Smith produced her fifth multiple-hit game of the season.
  • Eckelberry and Krider generated their second and first multiple-hit performances of the campaign.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon returns to action Friday, April 22 at Slippery Rock.
  • The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division doubleheader is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
  • Gannon leads the all-time series against Slippery Rock 41-20.
  • The Lady Knights will be looking for the season sweep after winning both games of a home doubleheader at McConnell Family Stadium on April 13 by scores of 11-1 and 4-3.
  • Gannon enters the final weekend of the regular season in second place among PSAC West teams. The Lady Knights have a one-game lead over Slippery Rock and two-game lead over Seton Hill.
  • The top three teams in each division qualify for the PSAC Tournament.
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Players Mentioned

Jess Rectenwald

#1 Jess Rectenwald

OF/P
5' 7"
Senior
R/L
Alyssa Bates

#15 Alyssa Bates

C
5' 8"
Senior
R/R
Alison Benz

#17 Alison Benz

P
5' 5"
Senior
R/R
Sarah DiOrio

#7 Sarah DiOrio

OF
5' 9"
Senior
R/R
Katie Eckelberry

#14 Katie Eckelberry

3B/2B
5' 1"
Sophomore
R/R
Olivia Gumbita

#5 Olivia Gumbita

P
5' 8"
Junior
R/R
Jackie Martinez

#2 Jackie Martinez

OF
5' 4"
Sophomore
L/R
Jen Moran

#8 Jen Moran

2B
5' 4"
Junior
R/R
Allie Salerno

#12 Allie Salerno

3B/2B
5' 5"
Sophomore
L/R
Jenn Krider

#23 Jenn Krider

OF
5' 5"
Junior
B/R

Players Mentioned

Jess Rectenwald

#1 Jess Rectenwald

5' 7"
Senior
R/L
OF/P
Alyssa Bates

#15 Alyssa Bates

5' 8"
Senior
R/R
C
Alison Benz

#17 Alison Benz

5' 5"
Senior
R/R
P
Sarah DiOrio

#7 Sarah DiOrio

5' 9"
Senior
R/R
OF
Katie Eckelberry

#14 Katie Eckelberry

5' 1"
Sophomore
R/R
3B/2B
Olivia Gumbita

#5 Olivia Gumbita

5' 8"
Junior
R/R
P
Jackie Martinez

#2 Jackie Martinez

5' 4"
Sophomore
L/R
OF
Jen Moran

#8 Jen Moran

5' 4"
Junior
R/R
2B
Allie Salerno

#12 Allie Salerno

5' 5"
Sophomore
L/R
3B/2B
Jenn Krider

#23 Jenn Krider

5' 5"
Junior
B/R
OF