WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Gannon University softball team opened the 2022 season against a pair of quality opponents on Sunday—No. 20-ranked Georgian Court University and Assumption College—and despite a 4-0 loss to Georgian Court in the morning, the Knights' bats came alive against Assumption in the afternoon for a 5-2 win to win the team's first game of 2022.
 
Golden Knights leadoff batter Megan Dietrick (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) had a great day at the dish, combining for three hits (including a triple), a run scored, and an RBI throughout both games, while Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) and Rebecca Tatone (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) combined to pitch a stellar game against Assumption, allowing only one earned one.
 
GEORGIAN COURT 4, GANNON 0
 
Kennedy DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) pitched all seven innings, striking out five and allowing three earned runs. Her pitching counterpart, Georgian Court's Mikayla Gilgert, struck out 12 batters and only allowed two hits—a single from Kristina DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) to begin the second inning and a triple from Gannon leadoff hitter Megan Dietrick (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) in the bottom of the third.
 
Offensively, Georgian Court got all the production it needed from first baseman Kaitlyn Stufft, who went 2-for-4 with four RBIs, including a 2-run homer in the fifth inning.
 
GANNON 5, ASSUMPTION 2
 
Gannon regrouped in the afternoon to face Assumption College, who had just defeated Georgian Court 8-5 in its previous game. Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) started the game in the circle and struck out three in her five innings of work, surrendering only one earned run. The offense supported her with some runs and rallied in the top of the third inning, with Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) reaching on an error and advancing to second base to kick it all off. Sophia Buckberger (Winnipeg, Manitoba/St. Mary's Academy) also reached on a fielder's choice as the lineup turned over, and Megan Dietrick (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) singled on a hotshot past the shortstop into left field that was good for an RBI, scoring Ryan to give Gannon the 1-0 lead.
 
The next batter, Nicole Bush (Painesville, Ohio/Lake Catholic), launched the ball into centerfield for a sacrifice fly that brought Buckberger home. Kristina DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) stepped in and socked another ball out to center for an RBI double to make it 3-0 Knights. The lead extended to 4-0 in the inning after cleanup batter Lily Gfeller (Livonia, N.Y./Livonia) deposited a 1-2 pitch to left field for her first RBI of the season.
 
Assumption fought back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to make it 4-2, but the defense played solidly behind Vasi all day, highlighted by catcher Mackenzie Ming's (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) throw down to third base to catch Assumption's Lauren Geremia stealing for the first out of the fifth inning that settled things down after Geremia had reached base on a single to begin the frame.
 
Rebecca Tatone (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) entered the game to pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning, did not allow a run, and struck out two in her three innings of work. A Gannon insurance run came from Maddie Krause (North Royalton, Ohio/Holy Name High) after she led off the top of the sixth with a walk and later scored after a wild pitch to secure the 5-2 result. Tatone earned her first save of the season for her efforts, as Vasi likewise picked up her first win of the 2022 campaign.
 
The Knights continue play in Winter Haven, Fla. at The Spring Games on Monday, Feb. 28 with games against Fairmont State (12:15 p.m.) and Charleston (2:30 p.m.)
 
JUNIOR VARSITY – LAKE MICHIGAN COLLEGE 5, GANNON 6
 
The Golden Knights' junior varsity squad also took the field against Lake Michigan College and earned a 6-5 victory. Down 3-0 in the second inning, the team manufactured two runs as Olivia Evans (Horseheads, New York/Horseheads Senior High) and Maddie Woge (Guys Mills, Pa./Maplewood) both reached base and scored to make it a one-run game. Gannon took the lead in the fourth thanks to three straight singles (from Woge, Maddie Krause (North Royalton, Ohio/Holy Name High), and Natalia Mallozi to put the Knights up 4-3. Mackenzie Ming (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) scored in the fifth inning and the eventual game-securing run came in the sixth inning on back-to-back doubles from Hannah Mass (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) and Katie Sidare (Rochester, N.Y./Victor Central).