SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – During the first four games of the Gannon softball team's recent winning streak, high-powered offense was the key.
 
However, the Golden Knights ran their winning streak to five games on Wednesday with just one run, thanks to Maggie Lenda's (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) pitching and some outstanding defensive play behind her.
 
Lenda took a perfect game into the seventh inning and pitched a one-hitter in GU's 1-0 victory over Slippery Rock in Game 1 of a PSAC West doubleheader at Kasnevich Field. That ran the Golden Knights' winning streak to five games before SRU ended the streak with a 10-2 victory in Game 2.
 
Gannon moved to 14-10 overall and remained in third place in the PSAC West standings with a 9-5 mark. Slippery Rock moved to 12-19 and 5-7.
 
Here's a look at the two games:
 
 
Game 1: Gannon 1, Slippery Rock 0
 
Lenda was superb as the junior right-hander tossed a one-hitter for her seventh consecutive victory to improve her season record to 8-2. She has now allowed only three earned runs over 33 innings in her past six outings.
 
She retired the first 18 batters she faced on Wednesday thanks in part to Gannon's strong defense as 16 of those batters put the ball in play.
 
Lenda's bid for a perfect game ended when she walked the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the seventh and then gave up a single to SRU's Alexsa Hurd. Hurd stole second to put runners on second and third before Lenda got the next hitter to ground out to third base.
 
Lenda allowed another walk before she induced a fielder's choice for the forceout at home. Slippery Rock's Grace Smith then grounded out to second to end the game and preserve the 1-0 win.
 
 
Gannon scored the game's only run in the top of the sixth inning when Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) singled to shortstop to score Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford).  
 
Gannon's Natalie Mallozzi saw two impressive streaks end on the first inning of Game 1. She popped out to the pitcher to end her streak of nine hits in nine consecutive at-bats. She also had reached base in 11 consecutive plate appearances. She finished game 1-for-3.
 
 
Game 2: Slippery Rock 10, Gannon 2
 
The Rock bounced back offensively in Game 2 as it scored nine runs over the first three innings and claimed a six-inning victory.
 
Arielle Brown hit a home run and drove in four runs to lead Slippery Rock. Julia Montie and Alyssa Sheely also homered.
 
Vasi and Ryan each had one hit and one RBI to lead GU.