THE GAME FACTS – GAME 1
Score: Winona State 9, Gannon 4
Records: Gannon (5-4), Winona State (17-3)
Location: Viera, Fla.
Date: March 8, 2026
THE GAME FACTS – GAME 2
Score: Franklin Pierce 8, Gannon 2
Records: Gannon (5-5), Franklin Pierce (2-0)
Location: Melbourne, Fla.
Date: March 8, 2026
MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Gannon softball team continued play at the Space Coast Games on Sunday, falling to Winona State 9-4 before dropping an 8-2 decision to Franklin Pierce later in the day.
GAME ONE – WINONA STATE
Winona State 9, Gannon 4
Winona State jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the opening inning behind a two-run home run and an unearned run.
The Warriors added another run in the fourth inning before breaking the game open with a four-run fifth inning to build an 8-1 advantage.
Gannon answered in the bottom of the fifth when
Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) launched a two-run home run to left field, trimming the deficit to 8-3. The Golden Knights added another run in the seventh on a solo home run from
Jenna Clontz (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong).
Smerick finished with two RBIs while
Josie Spano (Hudson, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) also drove in a run for the Golden Knights.
Alli Novick (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney Community) recorded two hits, including a double, to pace the offense.
THE KNIGHT CAP – GAME 1
Smerick Goes Deep: Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning to highlight the Gannon offense.
Clontz Adds Power: Jenna Clontz (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) launched a solo home run in the seventh inning.
Novick Multi-Hit Day: Alli Novick (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney Community) recorded two hits, including a double.
Spano Drives One In: Josie Spano (Hudson, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) delivered an RBI single in the fourth inning.
Strikeouts in the Circle: Miranda Biles (Hartstown, Pa./Jamestown Area) and
Jessica Westmiller (Buffalo, N.Y./Williamsville East) combined for six strikeouts.
Six Hits for Gannon: The Golden Knights finished with six hits in the contest.
GAME TWO – FRANKLIN PIERCE
Franklin Pierce 8, Gannon 2
Franklin Pierce struck first with a two-run home run in the second inning to take the early lead.
Gannon answered in the third inning when
Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) drove in
Alaina Whipkey (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) with an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Ravens responded with three runs in the fourth inning and added three more in the fifth to extend their lead to 8-1.
Josie Spano (Hudson, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) later drove in a run with an RBI single in the fifth inning to score Whipkey, but Gannon was unable to mount a late comeback.
Spano finished with two hits and an RBI while Whipkey scored both runs for the Golden Knights.
THE KNIGHT CAP – GAME 2
Spano Leads the Offense: Josie Spano (Hudson, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) finished with two hits and an RBI for the Golden Knights.
Whipkey Scores Twice: Alaina Whipkey (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) crossed the plate for both Gannon runs.
Smerick RBI: Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) drove in a run with an RBI groundout in the third inning.
Strikeouts in the Circle: Katie Armstrong (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) and
Jessica Westmiller (Buffalo, N.Y./Williamsville East) combined for seven strikeouts.
Seven Hits in Game Two: The Golden Knights recorded seven hits in the nightcap.
Up Next
Gannon concludes play at the Space Coast Games on Monday, March 9, taking on Ferris State at 12:15 p.m. before facing the University of Indianapolis at 2:30 p.m. in Melbourne, Florida.
This story was written using the support of AI.
