Jenna Clontz
Luke McGeorge
4
Clarion CLARION 6-11
10
Winner Gannon GANNON 6-7
Clarion CLARION
6-11
4
Final
10
Gannon GANNON
6-7
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Clarion CLARION 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 4 8 1
Gannon GANNON 0 2 0 5 2 1 X 10 9 1

W: Spano, Josie (1-3) L: Rian Reed (4-3)

4
Winner Clarion CLARION 7-11
3
Gannon GANNON 6-8
Winner
Clarion CLARION
7-11
4
Final
3
Gannon GANNON
6-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Clarion CLARION 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 4 10 1
Gannon GANNON 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 3 3

W: Emma Hipps (1-4) L: Westmiller, Jessica (2-1)

Game Recap: Softball | | Taylor Brown, Associate Director of Sports Information & Media Relations

Clontz Homers Twice as Softball Splits PSAC Opener vs. Clarion

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon softball team split its PSAC opening doubleheader against Clarion on Saturday afternoon at McConnell Family Stadium, earning a 10–4 win in game one before falling 4–3 in game two.

Gannon used a big fourth inning to pull away in the opener, scoring five runs to take control of the game. The Golden Knights added two more runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to secure the win.

Jenna Clontz (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) led the offensive effort, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a triple, and four RBI. Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) added two hits and two RBI, while Alli Novick (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney Community) finished with two hits and an RBI.

Josie Spano (Hudson, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) earned the win in the circle, allowing three runs (two earned) over 4.1 innings with five strikeouts, notching her first win of the season.

THE GAME FACTS – GAME ONE
Score: Gannon 10, Clarion 4
Records: Gannon (6-7, 1-1 PSAC), Clarion (6-11, 1-1 PSAC)
Location: McConnell Family Stadium – Erie, Pa.
Date: March 21, 2026

THE GAME FACTS – GAME TWO
Score: Clarion 4, Gannon 3
Records: Gannon (6-8, 1-1 PSAC), Clarion (7-11, 1-1 PSAC)
Location: McConnell Family Stadium – Erie, Pa.
Date: March 21, 2026

In game two, Clarion built an early lead and held off a late Gannon rally to secure the split.

Jenna Clontz (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) provided the highlight for Gannon with a solo home run, while Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) and Carlyn Vaupel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) each recorded hits. Gannon scored once in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings but could not complete the comeback.

Miranda Biles (Hartstown, Pa./Jamestown Area) led the pitching effort in relief, recording six strikeouts over 4.1 innings.
 
THE KNIGHT CAP
  • PSAC Opener: Gannon split its conference-opening doubleheader against Clarion.
  • Big Inning: The Golden Knights scored five runs in the fourth inning of game one.
  • Clontz Leads Offense: Jenna Clontz (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) totaled five RBI across the doubleheader, including a home run and a triple in game one.
  • Smerick Shines: Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) recorded multiple hits in game one and added an RBI in game two.
  • First Win: Josie Spano (Hudson, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) earned her first win of the season, striking out five in game one.
  • Biles in Relief: Miranda Biles (Hartstown, Pa./Jamestown Area) recorded six strikeouts in game two.
  • Late Push: Gannon scored in each of the final three innings in game two.

Up Next
Gannon will host Edinboro on Wednesday, March 25 for a doubleheader. Game one is set for 2:00 p.m.

This story was written using the support of AI.
 
 
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