Katie Armstrong
Bryce Dolak

Softball Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Another Busy Week in Store for Softball Team

GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (14-10, 9-5 PSAC West) at CLARION GOLDEN EAGLES (10-20, 5-9 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME:  Tuesday, April 16, 2024 | 2:00 p.m. (DH)
BALLPARK/LOCATION: Memorial Stadium Complex l Clarion, Pa.
LIVE VIDEO l LIVE STATS
 
CLARION GOLDEN EAGLES (10-20, 5-9 PSAC West) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (14-10, 9-5 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME:  Thursday, April 18, 2024 | 2:00 p.m. (DH)
BALLPARK/LOCATION: McConnell Family Stadium l Erie, Pa.
LIVE VIDEO l LIVE STATS

SETON HILL GRIFFINS (29-9, 17-3 PSAC West) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (14-10, 9-5 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME:  Friday, April 19, 2024 | 2:00 p.m. (DH)
BALLPARK/LOCATION: McConnell Family Stadium l Erie, Pa.
LIVE VIDEO l LIVE STATS

CALIFORNIA (PA) VULCANS (13-14, 11-8 PSAC West) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (14-10, 9-5 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME:  Saturday, April 20, 2024 | 1:00 p.m. (DH)
BALLPARK/LOCATION: McConnell Family Stadium l Erie, Pa.
LIVE VIDEO l LIVE STATS
 
 
ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon softball team faces another busy week with the end of the regular season fast approaching. Postponements have forced the Golden Knights to play eight doubleheaders over the final 12 days of the regular season, including four in five days this week. And they must still fit in a doubleheader with Pitt-Johnstown.

The hectic week begins with a doubleheader at Clarion on Tuesday, April 16 before the two teams meet again on Thursday, April 18 at Gannon. That begins a stretch of three straight home doubleheaders in three days. Seton Hill visits McConnell Family Stadium on Friday, April 19 with California (Pa.) playing a doubleheader at Gannon on Saturday, April 20.

Saturday's twinbill with California (Pa.) is also Senior Day. Eight seniors will be recognized in festivities prior to the game.
Head coach Michelle Wiley's team ran off five straight wins before suffering a loss at Slippery Rock in the second game of a doubleheader last Wednesday. Since that time the Golden Knights had doubleheaders at Indiana (Pa.) and Pitt-Johnstown postponed due to the weather.

Gannon enters the week at 14-10 and is 9-5 in the PSAC West. That places the Golden Knights second in the division behind front-running Seton Hill.

Clarion comes in with a 10-20 record and is 5-9 in the PSAC West after losing seven of its last eight games. Seton Hill on the other hand has run off five straight wins and 12 wins in the last 13 games. The Griffins have a 29-9 record, including 17-3 in the Western Division. Finally, California (Pa.) is 13-14 overall but 11-8 in the PSAC West.

Up until the Slippery Rock doubleheader the Gannon bats had been on fire, scoring 51 runs in the previous six games. The ringleader has been Natalia Mallozzi (Woodbridge, Ontario/Father Bressani Catholic), who is now hitting a PSAC-leading .492. The redshirt junior first baseman has had 15 hits in her last 20 at bats. She also ranks among the PSAC leaders in doubles with 10 along with hitting three home runs. She is tied for second on the team with 17 RBIs.

Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) is third in the PSAC in batting with a .459 average with 13 RBIs.  The senior pitcher/designated player has almost been as hot as Vasi with 13 hits in her last 22 at bats.

Three other Golden Knights are hitting above .300 as the Golden Knights come in with a team batting average of .325. Freshman outfielder Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) is hitting .383 and is tied for the team lead with four home runs along with a team-leading 20 RBIs. She also has a team-best 12 stolen bases.

Fellow freshman outfielder Jenna Clontz (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) is at .328 with 4 HRs and 17 RBIs. Second baseman Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) is next at .310 with a pair of home runs and 17 RBIs.

Maggie Lenda (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) has emerged as Gannon's top pitcher in the circle. The junior has an 8-2 record with a 2.72 ERA. She has allowed 54 hits and 27 walks in 61.2 innings while striking out 50. She is riding a seven-game winning streak and during that period has a 1.23 ERA. In her last start she took a perfect game into the seventh inning at Slippery Rock. She ended up with a one-hitter in a 1-0 win.    
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Players Mentioned

Maggie Lenda

#19 Maggie Lenda

P
5' 10"
Junior
R/R
Natalia Mallozzi

#1 Natalia Mallozzi

OF/1B
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
L/R
Jules Ryan

#37 Jules Ryan

2B
5' 8"
Senior
R/R
Gabi Vasi

#27 Gabi Vasi

P
5' 7"
Senior
L/R
Jenna Clontz

#25 Jenna Clontz

OF
5' 7"
Freshman
R/R
Emma Smerick

#5 Emma Smerick

OF
5' 6"
Freshman
L/R

Players Mentioned

Maggie Lenda

#19 Maggie Lenda

5' 10"
Junior
R/R
P
Natalia Mallozzi

#1 Natalia Mallozzi

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
L/R
OF/1B
Jules Ryan

#37 Jules Ryan

5' 8"
Senior
R/R
2B
Gabi Vasi

#27 Gabi Vasi

5' 7"
Senior
L/R
P
Jenna Clontz

#25 Jenna Clontz

5' 7"
Freshman
R/R
OF
Emma Smerick

#5 Emma Smerick

5' 6"
Freshman
L/R
OF