Gannon Grabs First Win Of Season With Split Against California (Photo Gallery)

THE RUNDOWN

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER

GAME 1

Final Score: California 4, Gannon 1
Box Score: Click Here

HOW IT HAPPENED

Aside from a few walks, both pitchers cruised through the first couple innings until Maria Taliani (Cheswick, Pa./Deer Lakes) smacked a double off the wall in dead center in the bottom of the second. The Golden Knights didn't get a run out of that chance, but did the next inning.
There, a Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) single with one out got things started, and the freshman scored on a single to right from Kristina DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) to give Gannon the lead.
A quick top of the fourth kept the lead in Gannon's favor, but Cal U hopped on opportunities in the fifth, taking advantage of errors to tie it, then notching three straight singles to help boost the lead to 4-1.
Gannon got a runner on in each of the final three innings, including singles from Ryan and Sophia Buckburger, but the Vulcans held on for the win.

GAME 2

Final Score: Gannon 3, California 0
Box Score: Click Here

HOW IT HAPPENED

Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) got the call in the circle for Game 2 and went to work quickly, allowing just a pair of walks over the first two innings. Gannon loaded the bases in the second, getting singles from Taliani and Lyndsey Lakatos (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler Area) and a two-out walk from Maddie Krause (North Royalton, Ohio/Holy Name High), but Cal U got out of the jam to keep it scoreless.
Vasi worked around a lead-off single in the third and a two-out base knock in the fourth. The Knights got two on in the third, and broke through for the game's first run in the fourth, as Lakatos drew a lead-off walk, pinch runner Olivia Evans (Horseheads, New York/Horeseheads Senior High) moved to third on a Krause single and scored on Lily Gfeller's (Livonia, N.Y./Livonia) ground out.
In the bottom of the fifth, Taliani struck for her second double of the day, scoring Buckburger. She would come around to make it a 3-0 game on an error.
Vasi shut the door on any comeback attempt, allowing just one baserunner on a lone walk over the final three innings after Gannon took the lead.

GAME NOTES

Wednesday was the first home games for the softball team in 361 days.
Vasi finished her first collegiate win with a complete-game effort, allowing just two singles and three walks to go with three strikeouts.
Taliani went 2-for-3 in the nightcap, and 3-for-6 with a pair of doubles overall on the day.
Ryan was 2-for-4 with a run in the opener.

UP NEXT

Gannon will make its shortest road trip of the season with a ride to North East for a PSAC doubleheader against Mercyhurst Saturday.
The 1 p.m. doubleheader will feature live video and live statistics.

Players Mentioned