Bella Atherton game-winning hit vs. Tiffin
Bryce Dolak
3
Winner Gannon GANNON 1-0
2
Tiffin TIFFIN 0-1
Winner
Gannon GANNON
1-0
3
Final
2
Tiffin TIFFIN
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Gannon GANNON 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 5 0
Tiffin TIFFIN 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 8 1

W: Armstrong, Katie (1-0) L: C. Feldkamp (0-1)

9
Winner Trevecca Nazarene TREVECCA 4-2
2
Gannon GANNON 1-1
Winner
Trevecca Nazarene TREVECCA
4-2
9
Final
2
Gannon GANNON
1-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Trevecca Nazarene TREVECCA 0 1 0 4 1 1 2 9 14 0
Gannon GANNON 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 6 2

W: A. Behnke (0-0) L: Vasi, Gabi (0-0)

Game Recap: Softball | | Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Freshmen Battery Leads Gannon to 3-2 Win over Tiffin in Season Opener

Golden Knights split pair of games in 2024 Music City Festival

SMYRNA, Tenn. – The Gannon softball team opened the 2024 season on Friday with a split of a pair of games in the 2024 Music City Festival hosted by Trevecca Nazarene University. The tournament is taking place at Cedar Stone Park in Smyrna, Tenn.

Gannon rallied with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning to enjoy a successful debut, a 3-2 victory over Tiffin. In the nightcap the Golden Knights suffered a 9-2 loss to host Trevecca Nazarene.

The Golden Knights return to action on Saturday with two more games. They Face Drury at 11:00 a.m. followed by a meeting with Indianapolis at 1:00 p.m. The Greyhounds are ranked tenth in the NFCA Division II Top 25.

Gannon 3, Tiffin 2
Thanks to the freshman battery of Katie Armstrong (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) and Bella Atherton (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) the Golden Knights rallied for the win over the Dragons. Armstrong made her first career start in the circle a memorable one, scattering eight hits and striking out 11. Atherton, meanwhile, caught Armstrong's gem and provided the winning runs when she poked a two-run single up the middle with two outs in the top of the seventh to give Gannon the 3-2 lead. She would end the 2-for-3 at the plate. Tiffin pushed a run across in the bottom of the third for a 1-0 lead. After going down in order the first three innings Gannon threatened in the top of the fourth. Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong), another freshman, led off with a walk, moved up to second on a sacrifice and advanced to third on a fly-out to right. The threat ended with a strikeout. The Golden Knights finally broke through with their first base hit when Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) stroked a base hit to left center, but she was thrown out at second trying to stretch the hit into a double. Gannon knotted the score in the top of the sixth. Atherton singled to left center for her first career hit, moved up on a sacrifice bunt and reached third on a ground out. Alaina Whipkey's (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) two-out single to left produced Gannon's first run of the season. Tiffin struck for the lead run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth on a single and RBI double. Armstrong ended the frame with a strikeout. Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) opened the top of the seventh with a walk, and she moved to second on a fly out. Natalia Mallozzi (Woodbridge, Ontario/Father Bressani Catholic) singled and advanced to second on an error, with Girman holding at third. Following a ground out Atherton stepped to the plate and stroked her game-winning hit. Armstrong retired the side in the bottom of the seventh on a pair of strikeouts and a foul out to left. Gannon was outhit 8-5 but played error-free softball.

Trevecca Nazarene 9, Gannon 2
The Trojans pulled away with runs in each of the last four innings. Gannon grabbed a quick 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first as Alaina Whipkey (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) walked and moved to second on an Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) single. Natalia Mallozzi (Woodbridge, Ontario/Father Bressani Catholic) followed with a double down the left field line but Girman was thrown out at home. Trevecca Nazarene, now 4-2, knotted the score at 1-1 with an unearned run in the top of the second. The Trojans broke the game open and chased starter Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) with four runs in the top of the fourth. They added single runs in the fifth and sixth and a pair in the top of the seventh. Gannon's second run was courtesy of Emma Smerick's (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) RBI triple that drove in Zoey Monica (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea). Trevecca Nazarene ended with 14 hits while the Golden Knights had six safeties.
 
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