ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon softball team erupted for eight runs on 11 hits in four innings and claimed an 8-0 victory over Pitt-Johnstown in Game 2 on Thursday afternoon as the Golden Knights earned a doubleheader split with the Mountain Cats.
Gannon rallied from two four-run deficits to tie Game 1 before UPJ scored a single run in the seventh inning to escape with a 7-6 win at McConnell Family Stadium.
Coach
Michelle Wiley's Gannon team moved to 7-7 overall and 2-2 in the PSAC West. UPJ moved to 4-14 and 1-5.
Game 1:
Pitt-Johnstown seemed to take control of the opening game by taking leads of 4-0 and 6-2 while pitcher Mia Smith mowed down GU hitters on her way to 14 strikeouts.
However, Gannon sophomore center fielder
Ashley Fox (Cowansville, Pa./Karns City) made sure Gannon did not go down quietly in Game 1. With Gannon trailing 4-0 in the fourth inning, Fox belted a two-run double into right-center field.
Two innings later, with one run in and UPJ holding a 6-3 lead, Fox drilled a three-run homer to straightaway center field, igniting a wild celebration of players pouring from the dugout to welcome Fox back to home plate. It was the first homer of the year for Gannon and fourth of her career.
The five RBIs in a game were a career-best for Fox, who had four RBIs in a game against Edinboro on April 11, 2023, during her freshman season.
Despite GU's comeback, UPJ steadied itself as Shaylin Hagerman drilled an RBI double in the top of the seventh inning, and Smith set down the Knights in order in the bottom of the inning to secure the 7-6 outcome.
Hagerman finished with two hits and three RBIs to lead UPJ.
Game 2:
There was no drama in the second game of the doubleheader as Gannon's offense ignited and pitcher
Maggie Lenda (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) shut down the Mountain Cats.
Gannon scored one run in the first inning on an RBI groundout by
Jenna Clontz (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong). Gannon then struck for six runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) and Clontz hit back-to-back RBI doubles to start the big frame. One run scored on an error and then
Josie Spano (Hudson, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) added an RBI single before Mia Rya capped the inning with a two-run single.
Gannon scored its eighth run in the fourth inning on Vasi's second RBI single.
Lenda made sure the game ended by mercy rule in the fifth inning when she retired the side in order. The junior right-hander improved to 3-2 by limiting UPJ to two hits while striking out seven and walking two. She lowered her season ERA to 4.37.
Clontz finished with two hits and two RBIs, while Vasi and
Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) each had two hits and an RBI. Ryan had a pair of RBIs.
What's ahead:
Gannon is scheduled to continue its busy three-day stretch with a doubleheader at Seton Hill on Friday before traveling to California (Pa.) on Saturday for another PSAC West doubleheader.
** UPDATE: Saturday's doubleheader at California (Pa.) has been postponed. **
