JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Gannon softball team erupted for five home runs, 20 runs, and 22 hits as it kept its winning streak going with a PSAC West sweep at Pitt-Johnstown on Wednesday.
Coach Michelle Wiley's team extended its winning streak to five games by routing the Mountain Cats 11-3 and 9-1 at the VE Erickson Complex.
The Golden Knights completed a doubleheader sweep for the second consecutive day after rallying to beat Clarion 2-1 and 3-2 on Tuesday afternoon.
Gannon improved to 7-13 overall and 6-2 in the PSAC West, while UPJ slipped to 7-13 and 2-6.
Game 1:
Gannon 11, Pitt-Johnstown 3: Sophomore outfielders Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) and Natalia Mallozzi (Woodbridge, Ontario/Father Bressani Catholic) fueled the Knights' three-homer, 11-hit effort in the first game.
Girman hit a three-run homer and a two-run homer and finished with five RBIs. Mallozzi went 3-for4- with a home run, three runs scored, and four RBIs.
Girman opened scoring by blasting a three-run home run to right-center field in the top of the first inning.
UPJ tied the score in the bottom of the inning when Kayla Miehl hit a three-run homer.
However, it was all Gannon after that. Mallozzi gave Gannon a 5-3 lead with a two-run homer in the second inning, and her RBI single in the fourth made it 7-3.
Girman added a two-run homer in fourth before Mallozzi ended the game by the eight-run mercy rule in the fifth with a run-scoring fielder's choice.
Josie Spano (Hudson, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) and Andrea Watson (Venus, Pa./Cranberry Area) added two hits apiece for Gannon.
Gannon junior pitcher Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) (4-5) earned her fourth consecutive win with her fourth straight complete game. After allowing the first-inning homer, she held the Mountain Cats scoreless on two hits in the final four innings. Vasi finished with five strikeouts and one walk.
Game 2:
Gannon 9, Pitt-Johnstown 1: Junior Katie Sidare (Rochester, N.Y./Victor Central) and senior Lauryn Rougeux (Erie, Pa./McDowell) each homered and drove in a pair of runs to help the Golden Knights complete the doubleheader sweep.
Sophomore pitcher Maggie Lenda (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) (3-3) earned her second consecutive complete-game victory by pitching a four-hitter and striking out five.
Gannon trailed 1-0 going into the fourth inning before Girman collected her sixth RBI of the doubleheader with a sacrifice fly. Sidare then gave GU the lead for good with a solo homer in the fifth.
Sidare's RBI single triggered a five-run sixth inning. Ashley Fox (Cowansville, Pa./Karns City) added a two-run double, and Maddie Krause (North Royalton, Ohio/Holy Name High) hit a two-run single to cap the inning.
Rougeux closed the scoring with a two-run homer in the seventh inning.
Girman, Fox, and Sidare led Gannon's 11-hit effort with two hits apiece.
Girman finished the doubleheader 4-for-6 with four runs scored and six RBIs. She leads Gannon with a .353 average, four home runs, and 16 RBIs.
What's next:
Gannon's scheduled weekend doubleheaders against Seton Hill on Friday and California (Pa.) on Saturday have been postponed because of a forecast of inclement weather.
