CALIFORNIA, PA – Gannon's offense found its stride late in Saturday's twinbill with Cal (PA). Despite giving up the lead in the ladder stages of game one, the Golden Knights were paced by a grand slam in the latter contest, earning a split with the Vulcans on the road.
 
GAME 1

Trading Early Runs- Gannon got the scoring started two batters into the game. After an infield single from Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong), Sadie Carroll (North Canton, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) found the gap in right center to make it 1-0. Cal (PA) would level the game in the bottom half of the frame.
 
Sadie's Big Day- Carroll could not be stopped at the plate. Batting again in the third, the second baseman earned her second RBI of the morning, putting GU up 2-1. She would finish the game 4-4 with those two RBI's.
 
Clontz For The Lead- After the Vulcans took the lead in the fourth, Jenna Clontz (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two out. The sophomore delivered, singling up the middle to put the Golden Knights up 4-3.

Late Runs Doom GU – Gannon was unable to hold the lead after Cal (PA) tied the game in the fifth. Two solo home runs in the sixth, followed by single up the middle that scored a run proved to be the difference. GU fell, 8-4 after yielding five unanswered runs.
 
Key Performers – Carroll went 4-4 with two RBI's ... Clontz notched a pair of RBI's ... Smerick scored the opening run in a 1-4 day ... Josie Spano (Hudson, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) went 3 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits while striking out six ... Katie Armstrong (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) took the loss, allowing two runs in 1 2/3 innings in the circle.
 
GAME 2

Early Scoring Strikes Again – Abbey Girman (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) was just getting started on what would prove to be a monster day. She ripped a 1-2 pitch up the middle to plate a pair, and GU was up 2-0 in the blink of an eye. Kennedy Maynard (San Diego, Cal./University City) would then scamper home on a wild pitch in the second, and Gannon took a 3-0 lead after two.
 
First Start Success – Making her first start of the season, Jessica Westmiller (Buffalo, N.Y./Williamsville East) would not be daunted by the challenge. The junior wouldn't allow a hit until the third inning and kept GU in front throughout the game. She would allow eight runs, striking out four in a complete game effort. 

Grand Style – Up 4-2 in the fourth, GU got their second run of the game home on a wild pitch, and shortly thereafter came up Girman with the bases loaded. On a 3-2 count with two outs, Girman lifted a grand slam out of the yard, and the lead ballooned to six runs. It was her fourth homer of the campaign.
 
More History! - Girman put herself into the Gannon record books in the seventh. The senior crushed a ball off the wall to plate to bring her RBI total up to eight for the day, which set a program record for the most in a single game.
 
Key Performers – Girman's career day was marked by the grand slam in the fourth (3-5, 8 RBI's) ... Maynard was 2-5 with an RBI ... Smerick, Natalia Mallozzi (Woodbridge, Ontario/Father Bressani Catholic), and Destiny Garcia (Stockton, Cal./Bear Creek) each had multiple hits.
 
Up Next
Gannon returns home to McConnell Family Stadium for the final time in the regular season on Wednesday, as they face D'Youville for a doubleheader. Games are slated for 3:00 & 5:00 pm.