Gannon's lineup is announced before a game against Mercyhurst on April 8.
Jeff Kirik

Softball Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Golden Knights Begin Stretch of Four Doubleheaders in Four Days

SETON HILL GRIFFINS (24-12, 17-5 PSAC West) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (14-20, 13-9 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME:  Sunday, April 23, 2023 I 12:00 p.m.
FACILITY/LOCATION:  McConnell Family Stadium I Erie, Pa.
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CALIFORNIA (PA) VULCANS (21-19, 14-10 PSAC West) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (14-20, 13-9 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME:  Monday, April 24, 2023 I 2:30 p.m.
FACILITY/LOCATION:  McConnell Family Stadium I Erie, Pa.
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GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (14-20, 13-9 PSAC West) at SLIPPERY ROCK THE ROCK (24-18, 15-9 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME:  Tuesday, April 25, 2023 I 2:00 p.m.
FACILITY/LOCATION:  Kasnevich Field I Slippery Rock, Pa.
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GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (14-20, 13-9 PSAC West) at CALIFORNIA (PA) VULCANS (21-19, 13-9 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME:  Wednesday, April 26, 2023 I 2:00 p.m.
FACILITY/LOCATION:  Lilley Field I California, Pa.
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(All records and statistics as of April 23)
 
ERIE, Pa. – The final week of action in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference softball season has arrived, and while it will be a sprint to the finish, it will be a marathon week for Gannon. Thanks to a series of postponements, the Golden Knights have doubleheaders four straight days beginning on Sunday, April 23. To make matters worse, they will face the top teams in the PSAC West.

Gannon (14-20) currently sits in fourth place in the PSAC West with a 13-9 record in league play. Head coach Michelle Wiley's team is looking to make the PSAC Tournament for the 13th straight year (NOTE: the PSAC did not hold a tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19), with the top five teams in each division qualifying. Over the next week they'll face five of the six teams in the hunt for those berths.

The week begins with a doubleheader at McConnell Family Stadium on Sunday, April 23 against Seton Hill. The Griffins come in leading the PSAC West with a 17-9 record and are 24-12 overall. They are riding a nine-game winning streak. Seton Hill swept Gannon on April 12 by scores of 3-2 and 9-6.

On Monday, April 24 the Golden Knights will host California (Pa.). Thanks to multiple postponements the two teams have yet to meet this season despite entering the final week of play. The Vulcans come in as one of the hottest teams in the PSAC with wins in seven of their last eight games. They currently sit in fifth place in the division at 21-19 overall and 14-10 in the PSAC West. Two days later on April 26 the two teams will square off again in a doubleheader at Cal.

In between Gannon will travel to Slippery Rock on Tuesday, April 25 for another key doubleheader. The Rock is tied for second place in the division with a 15-9 record and is 24-18 overall. The two teams met at Gannon on April 4 in an "instant classic" twinbill. SRU jumped out to an 8-0 lead after three innings but Gannon rallied to send the game into extra innings. The Rock scored twice in the top of the eighth for a 10-8 win, then completed the sweep with a 1-0 decision in the nightcap.

Following the four doubleheaders in four days stretch the Golden Knights concludes the regular season hosting crosstown-rival Mercyhurst for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 29. The Lakers are tied with Slippery Rock for second place in the Western Division at 15-9.

Wiley continues to vary her lineups with numerous players stepping up. In fact, freshman Ashley Fox (Cowansville, Pa./Karns City) is the lone player to start all 34 games. Fox has taken over at shortstop and is batting .317 with a team-leading 10 stolen bases and 19 RBIs, good for second on the team.

Sophomore outfielder Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) leads the team in numerous hitting categories, including batting average (.351), doubles (8), home runs (8), RBIs (27), and slugging percentage (.713). The eight home runs are tied for 11th in a season since 2000.

Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) missed seven games with an injury at the start of conference action but is now second on the team with a .349 average. The junior second baseman is second on the team with five home runs and has 17 RBIs. Natalia Mallozzi (Woodbridge, Ontario/Father Bressani Catholic) adds a .338 average with six doubles.

Maggie Lenda (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) has emerged as Gannon's top hurler. The sophomore has a 7-5 record with a 3.29 ERA with 10 complete games in 14 starts. In 95.2 innings, she has allowed 90 hits and 31 walks while striking out 85. Josie Spano (Hudson, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) (1-6, 4.23 ERA) has enjoyed a solid freshman campaign and Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) (6-8, 5.86 ERA) has been better than her numbers indicate following a slow start.  
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Players Mentioned

Abbey Girman

#23 Abbey Girman

OF
5' 6"
Sophomore
L/R
Maggie Lenda

#19 Maggie Lenda

P
5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
Natalia Mallozzi

#1 Natalia Mallozzi

OF/1B
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
L/R
Jules Ryan

#28 Jules Ryan

2B/SS
5' 8"
Junior
R/R
Gabi Vasi

#27 Gabi Vasi

P
5' 7"
Junior
L/R
Ashley Fox

#5 Ashley Fox

OF/SS/2B
5' 4"
Freshman
R/R
Josie Spano

#13 Josie Spano

1B/P
5' 8"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Abbey Girman

#23 Abbey Girman

5' 6"
Sophomore
L/R
OF
Maggie Lenda

#19 Maggie Lenda

5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
P
Natalia Mallozzi

#1 Natalia Mallozzi

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
L/R
OF/1B
Jules Ryan

#28 Jules Ryan

5' 8"
Junior
R/R
2B/SS
Gabi Vasi

#27 Gabi Vasi

5' 7"
Junior
L/R
P
Ashley Fox

#5 Ashley Fox

5' 4"
Freshman
R/R
OF/SS/2B
Josie Spano

#13 Josie Spano

5' 8"
Freshman
R/R
1B/P