GREENSBURG, Pa. – The Gannon softball team blasted three home runs on the way to an 11-1 victory against Seton Hill in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the SHU Softball Complex.
 
The Griffins bounced back to win the second game 5-0 as the teams split the PSAC West twin bill.
 
Gannon moved to 8-8 overall and 3-3 in the PSAC West, while Seton Hill is now 18-8 and 6-2.
 
Here's a look at the two games:
 
 
Game 1:
 
Hours after registering an 8-0, five-inning win over in Game 2 of a home doubleheader against Pitt-Johnstown, the Gannon players continued their offensive onslaught in Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader.
 
GU's Alaina Whipkey (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) started the scoring with a two-run homer to left field in the first inning.
 
Gannon hit two more long balls in the fourth inning as the Knights struck for six runs in the frame.  After Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) extended the lead to 3-1 with an RBI single, freshman catcher Bella Atherton (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) launched a three-run homer to make it 6-1. Three batters later, freshman Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) belted a two-run homer to left field, and Gannon was in control with an 8-1 lead.
 
In the sixth inning, Smerick added an RBI groundout, Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) ripped an RBI double down the left-field line, and Jenna Clontz (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) singled home Ryan to give Gannon an 11-1 lead. GU claimed the mercy-rule win after the sixth inning.
 
Offensively, Atherton and Smerick led Gannon with three RBIs each. Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) had three hits and two runs scored, while Clontz, Vasi, and Mia Ryan (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) each had two of GU's 14 hits.
 
Gannon pitcher Maggie Lenda (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) continued her strong pitching effort. After gaining the shutout victory in Game 2 on Thursday, Lenda limited Seton Hill to one run on six hits in six innings. She struck out seven and walked one while improving to 4-2. Her earned-run average continued its steady descent since the third game of the season as Lenda's season ERA dipped to 3.88.
 

 
 
Game 2:
 
Gannon could not keep the offensive surge going against Seton Hill pitcher Logan Hartman in the second game. She improved to 10-3 by throwing a five-hitter while getting 11 strikeouts and walking none.
 
Gannon managed a single hit from five players – Smerick, Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford), Clontz, Vasi, and Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette).
 
The Griffins' three-run second inning was all it needed with Hartman in the pitching circle. Nina Grandey finished with three hits for SHU, and Kassidy Wittig and Abby Smearman each added two.
 
Jessica Westmiller (Buffalo, N.Y./Williamsville East) (0-2) pitched the complete game and took the loss for Gannon.
 
 
What's ahead:
 
Gannon's scheduled doubleheader against Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday has been postponed because of a forecast of rain.