ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon softball team claimed the series over Pitt-Johnstown with a doubleheader sweep on Friday afternoon to secure a berth to the PSAC Tournament. The Golden Knights shutout UPJ 10-0 before completing the series with a 7-4 victory.
THE RUNDOWN
- Records: Gannon (24-12, 23-9 PSAC), Pitt-Johnstown (9-27, 8-22 PSAC)
- Location: McConnell Family Stadium | Erie, Pa.
GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
GAME 1
Final Score: Gannon 10, Pitt-Johnstown 0
Box Score: Click Here
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Gannon attacked early and often taking a 5-0 lead in the first with the help of six hits. With one out, Megan Dietrick (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) and Maria Taliani (Cheswick, Pa./Deer Lakes) went back-to-back with doubles to score the first run of the game before Kaity Stocker (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe) homered into left to make it 3-0. Kristina DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) kept the Knights energy up as the senior singled up the middle before stealing second, bringing Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) to the plate. Ryan hit a shot through the left side to score the run before coming around the bases on a single by Lea Coffman (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) to extend their lead to five.
- Dietrick doubled into right center to lead off the inning followed by a base hit into center by Maria Taliani (Cheswick, Pa./Deer Lakes) to put runners on first and third. Stocker recorded her second multi-home run game of the season after driving the ball deep and out into right center to lead 8-0.
- The Knights added the final two runs with a grounder to short to score the runner from third followed by two consecutive singles by Dietrick and Taliani to seal the 10-0 shutout.
GAME NOTES
- Dietrick and Taliani each went 3-for-3 to lead Gannon's offense while Stocker and Coffman both tallied two hits.
- Stocker drove in five runs to tie her season-high while extending her lead on the programs career home run standings with her 34th and 35th career home runs.
- Rebecca Tatone (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) earned her 10th victory on the mound and third shutout of the season limiting UPJ to just two hits.
GAME 2
Final Score: Gannon 7, Pitt-Johnstown 4
Box Score: Click Here
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Pitt-Johnstown took a 2-0 lead in the first after capitalizing on an error before a single into center doubled the Mountain Cats lead.
- The Knights jumped on the board in the second with Kristina DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) leading off with a double down the left field line before scoring on a single into right by Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford). Lindsay Schmidt (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillian) put Gannon on top as the freshman hit her second home run of the season to get the go-ahead 3-2 lead.
- Maria Taliani (Cheswick, Pa./Deer Lakes) hit her 32nd career home run to add to Gannon's lead in the third. After a run was walked in, pinch hitter Lyndsey Lakatos (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler Area) singled into right center two drive in two runs to make it 7-2.
- UPJ's Stacy Walling hit a solo home run before Ali Belgiovane hit a two-run RBI double to bring the game within three but Gannon's defense was able to hold the Mountain Cats for the 7-4 victory.
GAME NOTES
- As a team, the Golden Knights recorded 12 hits with four players tallying two hits each.
- Kristina DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) went 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs.
- Lyndsey Lakatos (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler Area) and Lindsay Schmidt (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillian) each totaled two RBI.
- Katie Sidare (Rochester, N.Y./Victor Central) earned her second victory on the mound limiting UPJ to three hits through 3.2 innings.
- Rebecca Tatone (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) received her 12th start of the season allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits.
UP NEXT
- The Golden Knights will make their 10th consecutive trip to the PSAC Tournament after clinching an automatic berth with a 23-9 regular conference season record.
- Gannon will host a PSAC Quarterfinal game on Wednesday, May 5, at McConnell Family Stadium with an opponent to be announced at a later date.
