JAN PHYL VILLAGE, Fla. – The Gannon University softball team rode the momentum from a pair of wins on Thursday into its final day of play at The Spring Games, beginning with a 5-0 victory over Bemidji State and almost pulling off a late-inning rally against Kentucky Wesleyan before taking the loss, 6-5. The split moves the Golden Knights' record to 5-5 as they conclude their season-opening road trip in Florida.
 
Gannon leadoff hitter Megan Dietrick (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) was a catalyst at the top of the lineup, combining for four hits and four runs scored between both games. At the bottom of the lineup, Lindsay Schmidt (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillian) was also key to the team's success—responsible for three runs scored, three hits, and her team-high tying second home run of the season. Kristina DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) finished the day with three RBIs and continued to produce from the three-spot in the lineup, finishing the first 10 games with a batting average of .387, tied with Dietrick for the team lead. The Knights as a team combined for 17 hits on the day.
 
All three pitchers that Gannon utilized on the trip were impressive throughout the week—Kennedy DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) earned her second win of 2022 in the 5-0 shutout of Bemidji State, going six innings, allowing four hits, and striking out four—ending The Spring Games with an ERA of 1.97 and 32 innings pitched. Rebecca Tatone (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) came on in relief against Bemidji State and started the game against Kentucky Wesleyan, hurling five innings, striking out four, walking one, and surrendering just one big inning to the Panthers. Tatone leads the Knights in appearances (seven) and saves (two.) Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) pitched an inning in the Kentucky Wesleyan game and concludes the first 10 contests with a 1.26 ERA and a 2-0 record in three starts and five total appearances.
 
Gannon will return to action on Saturday, March 12 with a pair of games at Fairmont State beginning at 1:00 p.m. Those two teams met at The Spring Games earlier this week, on Feb. 28, with Gannon winning 3-2.
 
GANNON 5, BEMIDJI STATE 0
 
The Golden Knights wasted no time in grabbing the lead in the first game of the day, as Dietrick began the bottom of the first inning with a single and advanced to third base after a Nicole Bush (Painesville, Ohio/Lake Catholic) sacrifice and an error by the Bemidji left fielder. Cleanup batter Gfeller stepped in and ripped an RBI single to center field to give Gannon a one-run lead.
 
The offense struck again in the bottom of the third. Lindsay Schmidt (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillian) cranked a double to left center to lead off the inning, and the Gannon gameplan to put pressure on the Bemidji defense worked wonders; Schmidt advanced to third and Dietrick reached safely after an error by the third baseman, and a Bush bunt down the third base line allowed Schmidt to score to make it 2-0. Kristina DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Dietrick for a 3-0 scoreline. Those same players at the top of the lineup produced again in the fifth inning, with Dietrick and Bush stroking back-to-back singles to once again pressure Bemidji. A double steal attempt caused havoc in the infield and an error by the Behmidji catcher gave Dietrick enough time to trot home to make it 4-0 and set up Kristina DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) again, as she smoked the ball up the middle of the infield for an RBI knock and a 5-0 advantage.
 
Bemidji's best chance to get back in the game came in the top of the sixth, loading the bases after a pair of two-out singles from Mariah Stevenson and pinch-hitter Adelyn Wilson along with an Emmarie Yeager walk. Kennedy DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) buckled down and struck out Grace Bragg to keep the shutout intact, and Tatone entered in relief in the top of the seventh to toss a perfect 1-2-3 inning to close the game.
 
KENTUCKY WESLEYAN 6, GANNON 5
 
For the third straight game, Gannon scored in the first inning. The team was once again sparked by Dietrick at the top of the lineup as Megan smacked the ball to third base for a single and advanced to second after two-hole hitter Bush was hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Katie Sidare (Rochester, N.Y./Victor Central) looped a single into right, and an error by the right fielder allowed Dietrick and Bush to zoom home to create a 2-0 cushion.
 
Kentucky-Wesleyan pulled a run back in the bottom of the second inning to make it 2-1, and solid pitching from both teams maintained that scoreline until the top of the fifth. Schmidt reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, and consecutive singles from Dietrick and Bush loaded the bases wth one out. Kristina DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau)—as she has all week long—came through as a clutch hitter, doing her job and connecting on the sac fly to right field for the 3-1 lead.
 
A Kentucky Wesleyan rally in the bottom of the frame would give them control of the game, though, as a hit batter, a single, and a walk loaded the bases for the Panthers. An ensuing wild pitch brought home a run, and a Makenna Page two-run single to left gave her team the lead for the first time, 4-3. The Panthers added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to put Gannon down three runs heading into the top of the seventh.
 
With just three outs remaining, the Knights did not go away quietly. A Vasi single gave Gannon a baserunner, and up stepped Schmidt—who mashed a ball over the left field fence for her second home run of the season, bringing Gannon within just a run, 6-5. Kentucky Wesleyan starter Mary Morgan settled down after that, though, and retired the top of the lineup in order to end all hopes of a comeback.