2024 Softball Seniors
Bryce Dolak
2
California (Pa.) CAL-S 17-15, 15-9 PSACW
3
Winner Gannon GAN-SB 20-11, 15-6 PSACW
California (Pa.) CAL-S
17-15, 15-9 PSACW
2
Final
3
Gannon GAN-SB
20-11, 15-6 PSACW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
California (Pa.) CAL-S 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 7 0
Gannon GAN-SB 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 7 1

W: Lenda, Maggie (12-2) L: Caleigh Rister (10-7)

1
California (Pa.) CAL-S 17-16, 15-10 PSACW
9
Winner Gannon GAN-SB 21-11, 16-6 PSACW
California (Pa.) CAL-S
17-16, 15-10 PSACW
1
Final
9
Gannon GAN-SB
21-11, 16-6 PSACW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
California (Pa.) CAL-S 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 1
Gannon GAN-SB 4 5 0 0 X 9 5 1

W: Vasi, Gabi (5-5) L: Alyssa Rose (6-9)

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

Gannon Celebrates Senior Day with Sweep of California (Pa.)

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon softball team celebrated Senior Day on Saturday with a key sweep of PSAC West rival California (Pa.). The Golden Knights stunned the Vulcans with a 3-2 win in eight innings in the opener, then needed five innings in the nightcap to post a 9-1 win thanks to the rejuvenated bat of Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette).

Gannon recognized eight seniors prior to Saturday's twinbill – Maddie Krause (North Royalton, Ohio/Holy Name), Natalia Mallozzi (Woodbridge, Ontario/Father Bressani Catholic), Hannah Neal (Woodhaven, Mich./Woodhaven), Lynn Porter (Hanover, Mass./Ardrey Kell), Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford), Jessica Sheffield (West Valley, N.Y./St. Mary's), Katie Sidare (Rochester, N.Y./Victor Central), and Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East).

The two victories give the Golden Knights a 21-11 record, the third 20-win season under head coach Michelle Wiley, along with improving to 16-6 in the PSAC West. Cal dropped to 17-6 and 15-10 in the conference. After an earlier sweep at Cal the Golden Knights have now won the last five meetings with the Vulcans.

The doubleheader was the third in three days and the fourth in the last five days for a weary Gannon team. The Golden Knights get a much-needed day off on Sunday before beginning the final week of the PSAC West regular season with back-to-back doubleheaders. Gannon plays two games at Indiana (Pa.) on Monday, April 22 before hosting Slippery Rock for the final home doubleheader on Tuesday, April 23.  

Game 1 – Gannon 3, California (Pa.) 2  (8 innings)
Gannon entered the bottom of the seventh inning trailing the Vulcans 2-1 as Cal's Caleigh Rister shut down the Gannon attack. Rister retired the first two batters in the inning before Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) stepped to the plate and drove a 1-0 pitch for an opposite field home run to left to tie the score at 2-2. It was the freshman's team-leading fifth home run. Maggie Lenda (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) retired Cal in order in the top of the eighth. With one out Natalia Mallozzi (Woodbridge, Ontario/Father Bressani Catholic) reached base for the
Abbey Girman celebrates walk-off double vs. Cal
Abbey Girman celsbrates walk-off double in Game 1.
third time in the game with a single to left center. An out later Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) drove a pitch over the left fielder's head for a walk-off double as Mallozzi sprinted around the bases. Smerick ended the game going 2-for-4 while Mallozzi was 2-for-3 with a walk, driving in Gannon's first run in the first inning. Gannon finished with seven hits. Lenda, meanwhile, gutted her way through all eight innings while pitching for the third straight day. The junior improved to 12-2 while winning her 11th straight decision. While recording her 12th complete game of the season she pitched around trouble in several innings. At one point the Vulcans had the leadoff runner on base in five straight innings. She stranded six runners in scoring position. In all, Lenda allowed seven hits while walking four and striking out three.

Game 2 – Gannon 9, California (Pa.) 1 (5 innings)
The Gannon bats remained hot to start game number two, and in particular Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette). Gannon scored four runs in the opening inning then hit Cal with five more runs in the second, all nine runs coming with two outs. Both innings featured big hits by Girman. Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) led off the bottom of the first with a single and stole second. The next batters made outs, but Gannon followed with four two-out runs. Natalia Mallozzi (Woodbridge, Ontario/Father Bressani Catholic) and Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) drew walks, and Smerick scored on a wild pitch. Girman followed with a three-run home run to left field, her first of the season. Cal answered with a run in the second but the Golden Knights responded with five runs, all with two outs, on three hits in the bottom of the frame. Jules Ryan's (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) two-out single drove in the first run, and Mallozzi followed with a two-run single up the middle. Vasi drew her second walk and Girman drove in Mallozzi and Vasi with a double to left center. Vasi did the rest, settling down to hold the Vulcans without a run over the final three innings. One of the seniors recognized before the game, she improved to 5-5 while allowing just five hits, walking one and striking out three. Girman, meanwhile, may be heating up at just the right time. After challenging season records for home runs and RBIs a year ago, the junior entered Saturday's doubleheader with six RBIs. She drove in her seventh of the season with the walk-off hit in game one, then plated five runs with a home run and a double in game two. Mallozzi reached base in all three plate appearances with two walks and a two-run single.
 
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