PSAC WEST SOFTBALL
INDIANA (PA.) CRIMSON HAWKS (20-15, 11-7 PSAC WEST) AT GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (10-18, 9-7)
WHEN: Friday, 2 p.m., 4 p.m.
WHERE: McConnell Family Stadium
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PITT-JOHNSTOWN MOUNTAIN CATS (9-21, 4-14 PSAC WEST) AT GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS
WHAT: Gannon Senior Day
WHEN: Saturday, 1 p.m., 3 p.m.
WHERE: McConnell Family Stadium
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CALIFORNIA (PA.) VULCANS (14-18, 7-9 PSAC WEST) AT GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS
WHEN: Monday, 2 p.m., 4 p.m.
WHERE: McConnell Family Stadium
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CLARION GOLDEN EAGLES (14-16, 5-11 PSAC WEST) AT GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS
WHEN: Tuesday, 2 p.m., 4 p.m.
WHERE: McConnell Family Stadium

(All records through Thursday)

LIVE STATS FOR ALL GAMES

LIVE VIDEO FOR ALL GAMES  

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GANNON TO HAVE BIG HOME STAND

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon University softball team is scheduled to host a crucial, eight-game PSAC West home stand over five days at McConnell Family Stadium starting Friday.

Gannon is set to meet IUP on Friday and Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday before California visits Monday, and Clarion closes GU's busy stretch on Tuesday.

The Golden Knights will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday when it will recognize Lea Coffman (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell), Lily Gfeller (Livonia, N.Y./Livonia), Lauryn Rougeux (Erie, Pa./McDowell), Angela Vicini (Perry, Ohio/Perry), and Andrea Watson (Venus, Pa./Cranberry Area) for their contributions to the program.

Gannon (10-18 overall) enters the weekend in fifth place in the PSAC West with a 9-7 record. The top five teams in the division will advance to the PSAC Tournament.

Gannon's bats have been hot lately. Sophomore Natalia Mallozzi (Woodbridge, Ontario/Father Bressani Catholic) leads the team with a .348 batting average, while sophomore Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) is second with a .346 average and leads with five home runs and 19 RBIs.

Junior Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) (.328, 4 HRs, 15 RBIs), freshman Ashley Fox (Cowansville, Pa./Karns City) (.318, 2 HRs, 17 RBIs), senior Andrea Watson (Venus, Pa./Cranberry Area) (.297), and freshman Josie Spano (Hudson, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) (.290) also have been strong contributors, among others.

Sophomore Maggie Lenda (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) (5-5, .345) has been Gannon's most consistent pitcher.

IUP BRINGS STRONG OFFENSE

The Indiana Crimson Hawks enter Friday's action in fourth place in the PSAC West with an 11-7 record.

IUP's young lineup has been led by freshman Delaney Patella and sophomore Paige Truax. Patella leads the Hawks with a .404 average, seven home runs, and 27 RBIs.  Truax is hitting .368 and paces the team with 43 hits, 29 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases in 24 attempts.

Jordan Sylvia has 10 extra-base hits and 21 RBIs.

Gannon split a doubleheader with IUP on March 26, losing 9-5 in Game 1 and winning 4-3 in 10 innings.

UPJ ON UPSWING

The Mountain Cats are just 4-14 in the PSAC West, but they are coming off a doubleheader sweep of Cal on Tuesday as they won a pair of one-run games, 8-7 and 4-3.

Junior Kayla Miehl paces UPJ with a .376 average, seven homers, and 18 RBIs.

The Mountain Cats have struggled in the circle as no UPJ pitcher has an ERA under 5.05.

Gannon swept UPJ 11-3 and 9-1 on March 29.

CAL BATTLING FOR PLAYOFF SPOT

California is in sixth place in the PSAC West with a 7-9 record. The Vulcans had won three in a row before losing to the doubleheader against UPJ.

Cal will play doubleheaders at Mercyhurst on Friday and Slippery Rock on Saturday before visiting Gannon on Monday.

The Vulcans have a solid lineup that includes Kaitlyn Achtermeier (.400, 2 HRs, 26 RBIs), Britney Wilson (.344), and Charity Henderson (.340, 3 HRs, 25 RBIs).

Caleigh Rister (7-6, 2.03 ERA) and Alyssa Rose (4-5, 2.30 ERA) have been strong in the pitching circle.

Gannon and Cal have not met this season.

CLARION LOOKS TO MOVE UP

Clarion lost a doubleheader to Seton Hill 5-1 and 8-0 on Tuesday.

The Golden Eagles will look to improve their playoff hopes with doubleheaders at Slippery Rock on Friday and Edinboro on Saturday.

Gannon swept Clarion on March 28, but both games were tight, 2-1 and 3-2.

Senior Alyssa Stitt is a standout for the Golden Eagles. She is hitting .388 with four home runs and 33 RBIs. Her RBI total ranks ninth in the PSAC and fourth in the PSAC West.

Carissa Giordano (.360, 32 runs, 14 stolen bases) and Emily Buchleitner (.333, 3 HRs, 21 RBIs) also are big contributors.

Freshman pitcher Emma Hipps (8-4, 2.81 ERA) has been a standout for Clarion.

Note: All statistics are through Thursday's games.