Mallozzi Celebration
Bryce Dolak
Natalia Mallozzi celebrates home run with teammates
2
Mercyhurst MERSB 7-17, 3-6 PSACW
10
Winner Gannon GAN-SB 9-8, 4-3 PSACW
Mercyhurst MERSB
7-17, 3-6 PSACW
2
Final
10
Gannon GAN-SB
9-8, 4-3 PSACW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Mercyhurst MERSB 0 0 0 1 1 2 6 2
Gannon GAN-SB 3 1 3 3 X 10 10 2

W: Lenda, Maggie (5-2) L: Mikaela Schramski (1-5)

13
Winner Mercyhurst MERSB 8-17, 4-6 PSACW
5
Gannon GAN-SB 9-9, 4-4 PSACW
Winner
Mercyhurst MERSB
8-17, 4-6 PSACW
13
Final
5
Gannon GAN-SB
9-9, 4-4 PSACW
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
Mercyhurst MERSB 1 0 4 0 4 4 13 16 0
Gannon GAN-SB 0 4 0 0 0 1 5 8 2

W: Morgan Hilty (4-5) L: Vasi, Gabi (3-5)

Game Recap: Softball | | Taylor Brown, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Softball splits PSAC West doubleheader with crosstown rival Mercyhurst

Mallozzi and Ryan register first home runs of the season to highlight doubleheader split with crosstown rival Mercyhurst.

The Gannon University softball team split its PSAC West doubleheader with crosstown rival Mercyhurst on Saturday afternoon inside McConnell Family Stadium. The Golden Knights earned a 10-2 five-inning victory in the opener before dropping game two 13-5 in six innings. The twinbill also marked the softball program's annual Katie's Kids Day. 

The Basics
  • Records: Gannon (9-9 overall, 4-4 PSAC West), Mercyhurst (8-17 overall, 4-6 PSAC West)
  • Location: McConnell Family Stadium
  • Attendance: 125
Notables
  • The doubleheader between Mercyhurst and Gannon was promoted as its annual Katie's Kids Day, in memory of Gannon softball alum Katie Eckelberry.
  • Katie's Kids is a non-profit organization founded in 2020 with a mission to enhance the self-esteem of children in need of providing them with financial assistance for a variety of things including sporting equipment, prom tickets, summer camps and much more.
  • Fans that attended the doubleheader could purchase tickets for raffle baskets or make donations to go towards the organization.
Game 1 (5 innings)
  • Gannon struck first, with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) hit a two-out single that resulted in her going around the bases curtesy of a Mercyhurst throwing error to jump ahead, 3-0.
  • Natalia Mallozzi (Woodbridge, Ontario/Father Bressani Catholic) notched her first home run of the season in the second inning to extend the Golden Knight lead, 4-0.
  • Gannon used a three-run, three hit, third inning to widen its lead, 7-0. Jenna Clontz (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) scored on a pass ball, while a Mallozzi single to shortstop plated Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East). Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) concluded the scoring with a single up the middle to score Mallozzi.
  • The Lakers found the scoreboard in the fourth off a Carte single up the middle to trim the Golden Knight lead, 7-1.
  • Gannon added the final three runs of the contest in the fourth. Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) smacked her first home run of the season, while Katie Sidare (Rochester, N.Y./Victor Central) came in on a pinch-hit situation and notched a two-out, two-run RBI double to right field.
  • Mercyhurst plated its final run of the game from Bailey Cannon who hit an RBI double to right field to make it, 10-2.
Inside the Numbers
  • The Golden Knights plated 10 runs on 10 hits.
  • Maggie Lenda (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) threw a 5.0 inning effort and earned her fifth win of the season in the circle.
  • Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong), Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East), and Natalia Mallozzi (Woodbridge, Ontario/Father Bressani Catholic) each added two hits apiece to the contest. Mallozzi smacked her first home run of the season and recorded two RBIs, while Smerick and Vasi collected one RBI apiece.
  • Jules Ryan (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) also registered her first home run of the season and Katie Sidare (Rochester, N.Y./Victor Central) knocked in two RBIs. Bella Atherton (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) also added a hit as well to conclude the Gannon offensive surge.
Game 2 (6 innings)
  • A bases loaded walk brought Mercyhurst to an early, 1-0 lead in the first inning.
  • A four run, four hit second inning saw the Golden Knights pull ahead 4-1. Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) hit an RBI single to shortstop, while Alaina Whipkey (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) ripped a three-run RBI double up the middle.
  • The Lakers matched the Golden Knights in the next inning, plating four runs off four hits, and capitalized on two Gannon errors to grab a 5-4 lead.
  • The fifth and sixth innings saw Mercyhurst plate eight runs off nine hits to grab a 13-4 lead heading into the bottom half of the sixth.
  • A Katie Sidare (Rochester, N.Y./Victor Central) single brought in Abby Girman to plate the game's final run as the Lakers spoiled the Golden Knights late rally with back-to-back strikeouts to earn the doubleheader split.
Inside the Numbers
  • The Golden Knights plated five runs off eight hits.
  • Gabi Vasi (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) was dealt the loss in the circle after tossing three strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work.
  • Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) and Natalia Mallozzi (Woodbridge, Ontario/Father Bressani Catholic) recorded two hits apiece.
  • Alaina Whipkey (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) added a hit and three RBI, while Smerick and Sidare also added a hit and knocked in an RBI.
Up Next
The Golden Knights are back in action on Sunday, April 7, when they travel to take on PSAC West rival California (Pa.) First-pitch is slated for a 1:00 p.m. start at Lilley Field in California, Pa.
 
 
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