ERIE, Pa. – Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) and Lily Gfeller (Livonia, N.Y./Livonia) hit home runs and Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) had three hits as the Gannon softball team beat rival Mercyhurst in the first game of a doubleheader split on Saturday.

Maggie Lenda (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) earned a complete-game victory as Gannon won the first game 8-2 before Mercyhurst prevailed 12-2 in the second game at Mercyhurst Softball Field.

Coach Michelle Wiley's Gannon team moved to 8-16 overall and 7-5 in the PSAC West. Mercyhurst moved to 19-13 and 11-5.

Game 1:

Gannon 8, Mercyhurst 2: The game was tied 1-1 in the second inning when Gfeller belted her first home run of the season to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 lead.

One inning later, Girman connected for her team-leading fifth home run and moved her RBI total to 18. Her two-run homer to straight-away center field scored Ryan and gave the Knights a 4-1 lead.

Maddie Krause (North Royalton, Ohio/Holy Name High) triggered Gannon's four-inning fifth inning with an RBI single. Gannon then scored back-to-back runs on passed balls. Ryan capped the scoring by driving home Andrea Watson (Venus, Pa./Cranberry Area) with a groundout.

Ryan went 3-for-4 with a run and two RBIs, Girman and Krause went 2-for-4, and Watson scored two runs from her leadoff spot.

Lenda was efficient while earning the win to even her record at 4-4. She allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out three and walking three.

Game 2:

Mercyhurst 12, Gannon 2: The Lakers struck for nine first-inning runs and claimed the five-inning victory.

Eliza Reynolds hit a grand slam for Mercyhurst and Cheyenne Hindman hit a two-run homer.

Gannon had a chance to have a big inning in the bottom of the third. The Golden Knights loaded the bases with no outs. Olivia Evans (Horseheads, New York/Horseheads Senior High) walked to force home one run and Lea Coffman (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) hit a run-scoring fielder's choice after fouling off 10 consecutive two-strike pitches. However, Mercyhurst worked out of the jam with no other runs.

Ryan, Watson, Natalia Mallozzi (Woodbridge, Ontario/Father Bressani Catholic), and Jose Spano had one hit apiece for Gannon.

What's ahead

The Golden Knights will return to action on Tuesday when they visit Erie County rival Edinboro.