Katie Armstrong
Bryce Dolak

Softball Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Golden Knights Receive Great Pitching Efforts in Split of Two Games on Thursday

MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Gannon softball team earned a split of its two games in the Space Coast Games on Thursday in Melbourne, Fla. The Golden Knights picked up a 6-1 win to open the day against Ursuline but suffered a tough 1-0 loss to Felician in the nightcap. Gannon now has a 7-3 record.

The Golden Knights ran wild with 11 stolen bases in the win over Ursinus and two more against Felician. But the problem was they couldn't reach base in the second game. Jocelyn Moody retired the final 15 batters as just three Golden Knights reached base in a two-hitter. Gannon had great pitching on both games, allowing just eight hits all day.

Gannon returns to the diamond on Friday with two more games, playing Mercy at 10:00 a.m. and Bridgeport at 12:15 p.m.

Game 1 – Gannon 6, Ursuline 1
Katie Armstrong (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) tossed a complete game five-hitter to improve to 4-0. The sophomore struck out 11 while walking just one. While Armstrong allowed just one other runner to reach second with the exception of the fifth inning, the Golden Knights scored four times in the bottom of the fifth inning to break open a tight game. They were aided by two errors in the inning and featured an RBI single by Lindsay Breuer (Mason, Ohio/Mason). The second baseman was a perfect 3-for-3 on the day with two stolen bases. She drove in Gannon's second run after Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) opened the fourth inning with a triple. Gannon stole 11 bases in the game, including three by Clontz and Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong). Clontz scored Gannon's first run when she singled, stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch.

Game 2 – Felician 1, Gannon 0
Jocelyn Moody did something few pitchers have been able to do – silence the Gannon bats. She limited the Golden Knights to two hits and retired the final 15 batters she faced after Alaina Whipkey (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) singled to open the third inning. Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) had the other base hit for Gannon, a single to open the bottom of the first. Gannon had runners on second and third with no outs in that frame but could not score. Moody was hardly overpowering, striking out three, but she induced 15 ground ball outs. Gannon's Maggie Lenda (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) was nearly as good as the senior flashed the form she showed a year ago when she was named the PSAC West Pitcher of the Year. She allowed just three hits but the Golden Falcons were able to push across a run in the fifth inning after she retired the first two batters. Lenda ended the game walking three and striking out a pair.  

Wednesday's Games: The Golden Knights played twice on Wednesday, dropping a 9-8 decision against Assumption before pounding out a 12-1 win over Davis & Elkins in five innings. Gannon took an 8-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning against Assumption. The Greyhounds scored four times in the inning for the walk-off win. The Golden Knights took an 8-5 lead after scoring four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. Ashley Fox (Cowansville, Pa./Karns City) went 2-for-4 with a solo home run while Jenna Clontz (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) was 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs and Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) scored twice and drove in a pair of runs while stealing two bases. Gannon salvaged the split while totaling nine hits vs. Davis & Elkins. Natalia Mallozzi (Woodbridge, Ontario/Father Bressani Catholic) and Smerick each went 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs with Mallozzi stealing three bases and Smerick two. Katie Armstrong (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) allowed three hits and a walk while striking out six to improve to 3-0.
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Katie Armstrong

#29 Katie Armstrong

P
5' 2"
Sophomore
R/R
Jenna Clontz

#25 Jenna Clontz

OF
5' 7"
Sophomore
R/R
Ashley Fox

#6 Ashley Fox

OF
5' 4"
Junior
R/R
Abbey Girman

#23 Abbey Girman

OF
5' 6"
Senior
L/R
Maggie Lenda

#19 Maggie Lenda

P
5' 10"
Senior
R/R
Natalia Mallozzi

#1 Natalia Mallozzi

OF/1B
6' 0"
Graduate Student
L/R
Emma Smerick

#4 Emma Smerick

OF
5' 6"
Sophomore
L/R
Alaina Whipkey

#15 Alaina Whipkey

SS
5' 2"
Junior
R/R
Lindsay Breuer

#18 Lindsay Breuer

2B/C
5' 6"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Katie Armstrong

#29 Katie Armstrong

5' 2"
Sophomore
R/R
P
Jenna Clontz

#25 Jenna Clontz

5' 7"
Sophomore
R/R
OF
Ashley Fox

#6 Ashley Fox

5' 4"
Junior
R/R
OF
Abbey Girman

#23 Abbey Girman

5' 6"
Senior
L/R
OF
Maggie Lenda

#19 Maggie Lenda

5' 10"
Senior
R/R
P
Natalia Mallozzi

#1 Natalia Mallozzi

6' 0"
Graduate Student
L/R
OF/1B
Emma Smerick

#4 Emma Smerick

5' 6"
Sophomore
L/R
OF
Alaina Whipkey

#15 Alaina Whipkey

5' 2"
Junior
R/R
SS
Lindsay Breuer

#18 Lindsay Breuer

5' 6"
Junior
R/R
2B/C