Scoreboard

Bryce Dolak

Softball 2/25/2023 9:00:00 PM Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Golden Knights Drop Pair of One-Run Contests at NFCA Leadoff Classic

COLUMBUS, Ga. – After opening play in the NFCA Division II Leadoff Classic on Friday by splitting a pair of games the Gannon softball team suffered a pair of one-run losses on Saturday to go to 1-3 on the young season.

The Golden Knights dropped a 2-1 decision to Ohio Dominican in the first game on Saturday, and that was followed by a 3-2 loss to Georgia Southwestern State. In the opener Gannon tried to rally late but came up just short. In the nightcap the Golden Knights held a 2-0 lead thanks to solo home runs by Katie Sidare (Rochester, N.Y./Victor Central) and Josie Spano (Hudson, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) but the Hurricanes rallied for two runs in the bottom of the fifth and the winning run in the sixth.

Gannon has one game remaining in Georgia, playing Wingate on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. The Golden Knights then hop on the bus and head to Clermont, Florida to play seven games in five days.

Ohio Dominican 2, Gannon 1
Ohio Dominican (5-8) pushed across two runs with two outs in the second inning and made those runs stand up, edging Gannon 2-1. Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) was the hard-luck loser for the Golden Knights as the junior scattered eight hits while walking one and striking out one in seven innings. The Panthers' Marlee Jacobs held Gannon off the scoreboard until the bottom of the fifth inning. The Golden Knights had managed just one hit up to that point. Katie Sidare (Rochester, N.Y./Victor Central) led off the bottom of the fifth with a double and scored with two out on an RBI single by freshman Ashley Fox (Cowansville, Pa./Karns City). The Golden Knights threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to a one-out single by Lea Coffman (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) and a two-out base hit by Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette). But they would leave runners stranded at first and second, then went in order in the bottom of the seventh. Gannon ended with five hits, with Fox going 2-for-4.

Georgia Southwestern State 3, Gannon 2
The Hurricanes (12-3) scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning and held off a Gannon rally in the top of the seventh. Gannon opened the scoring in the top of the second inning as Katie Sidare (Rochester, N.Y./Victor Central) hit a solo home run for Gannon's first home run of the young season. The Golden Knights built the lead to 2-0 with another solo shot, this one with two outs off the bat of Josie Spano (Hudson, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) for the freshman's first career home run. GWSU tied the score with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the sixth. Pinch hitter Madison Griffis reached base on a walk, moved to third on Ashlyn Rogers' double and eventually scored on a passed ball. The tying run reached base for Gannon in the top of the seventh as Natalia Mallozzi (Woodbridge, Ontario/Father Bressani Catholic) was hit by a pitch to open the inning. With two outs Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) walked but the Golden Knights were unable to come up with the tying hit. Sophomore Maggie Lenda (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) was the hard-luck loser as she allowed just six hits and two walks while striking out five. All three runs against her were unearned. The Golden Knights were limited to three hits, with Ashley Fox (Cowansville, Pa./Karns City) accounting for the other safety.

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Players Mentioned

#22 Lea Coffman: 3B/C; 5' 7"; Senior; R/R

#23 Abbey Girman: OF; 5' 6"; Sophomore; L/R

#19 Maggie Lenda: P; 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R

#1 Natalia Mallozzi: OF/1B; 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore; L/R

#00 Katie Sidare: OF/P; 5' 10"; Junior; R/R

#27 Gabi Vasi: P; 5' 7"; Junior; L/R

#5 Ashley Fox: OF/SS/2B; 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R

#13 Josie Spano: 1B/P; 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#22 Lea Coffman
: 5' 7"; Senior; R/R
: 3B/C

#23 Abbey Girman
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF

#19 Maggie Lenda
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R
: P

#1 Natalia Mallozzi
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore; L/R
: OF/1B

#00 Katie Sidare
: 5' 10"; Junior; R/R
: OF/P

#27 Gabi Vasi
: 5' 7"; Junior; L/R
: P

#5 Ashley Fox
: 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R
: OF/SS/2B

#13 Josie Spano
: 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R
: 1B/P