GREENSBURG, Pa. – The Gannon University softball team finally completed its first doubleheader since April 2, securing a split with Seton Hill that included a 4-1 game one win and an incredible pitching effort from Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) in a 1-0 game two loss. The Golden Knights improve to 3-1 in PSAC play (11-9 overall) while Seton Hill moves to 3-3 in the conference and 26-7 overall.
 
Gannon's game one win was powered by a Kristina DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) two-run homer (her fifth of the season) as well as multi-hit efforts from Mackenzie Ming (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) and Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette). Kennedy DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) picked up her fifth win of the season by throwing seven innings, striking out six, and allowing just one run—but Vasi also had that stellar day in the circle in game two (6.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K.)
 
The Golden Knights now have a day of rest before a four-game homestand gets underway at McConnell Family Stadium, beginning with Pitt-Johnstown on Thursday, April 14. The Mountain Cats come into the series riding a four-game winning streak and are 14-9 overall and 2-0 in PSAC play. The Crimson Hawks of IUP (13-9 overall, 6-0 PSAC) travel to the campus of Gannon University on Friday, April 15 in what should be a critical PSAC West series.
 
GAME ONE – GANNON 4, SETON HILL 1
 
The Knights found themselves down 1-0 after a Seton Hill sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning, but struck back in the top of the third. Nicole Bush (Painesville, Ohio/Lake Catholic) drew a four-pitch walk to reach base and bring up Kristina DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau), who smashed a ball deep to right field, tucking it inside the foul pole for the go-ahead two-run homer, her fifth of the season.
 
Gannon also got the bats rolling in the top of the fourth inning, with back-to-back doubles from Mackenzie Ming (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) and Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) to begin the frame. Girman's, roped down the left field line on a full count, scored Ming from second base to make it 3-1 and chased Seton Hill starter Lauren Dellett from the game. Gannon starter Kennedy DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) kept the Griffins' lineup in check, pitching all seven innings, limiting them to four hits, and striking out six.
 
The Knights added an insurance run in the top of the seventh after Kristina DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) reached on an fielding error by the third baseman and took second base on some heads-up baserunning. She was driven in by a two-out Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) RBI single up the middle to make it 4-1 and give Kennedy DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) plenty of breathing room. Seton Hill loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh but Kennedy induced a groundout from Brooke Cleland to end the game.
 
GAME TWO – SETON HILL 1, GANNON 0
 
Game two of the day featured two pitchers at the top of their game throwing exceptional games from the circle. Gannon's Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) faced the minimum through four innings and only surrendered one hit and two walks to the Griffins. Her counterpart, Seton Hill's Morgan Ryan (a transfer from Notre Dame) scattered five hits, walked none, and struck out 10.
 
The Griffins first threatened in the bottom of the fifth after getting the first hit off of Vasi with an infield single up the middle by Morgan Toal. Pinch hitter Shayleigh Gulvas laid down the sacrifice bunt to third base, as Kristina DeMatteis (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) got there quickly and fired to first for the sure out. Toal tried to aggressively take third base, as well, but a quality throw from Nicole Bush (Painesville, Ohio/Lake Catholic) to Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) across the diamond to third made it a double play and shut down the Griffins in the inning.

Gannon's offense finally seemed to come alive in the top of the sixth, as Lindsay Schmidt (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillian) led off with a single through the left side. Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) laid down the sacrifice bunt and beat the throw to reach base safely on the fielder's choice, putting two runners on with no outs—but Morgan Ryan struck out Mackenzie Ming (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston), got Vasi to fly out, and struck out Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) to end the inning.
 
Seton Hill scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth. Natalia Greco drew a leadoff walk and another sacrifice bunt advanced her to second. A groundout to the right side of the infield allowed her to get to third base with two out, and a wild pitch brought her home to score what would eventually be the game-winning run.