EDINBORO, Pa. — The Golden Knights softball team concluded the 2026 season by splitting a PSAC West doubleheader at Edinboro on Sunday afternoon, falling 11-4 in game one before erupting for a 17-8 victory in the nightcap.
Despite finishing tied with Clarion at 12-16 in conference play, Gannon narrowly missed the final spot in the PSAC Tournament as the Golden Eagles earned the tiebreaker after sweeping Slippery Rock today to conclude the regular season.
THE GAME FACTS
Game One Score: Edinboro 11, Gannon 4
Game Two Score: Gannon 17, Edinboro 8
Records: Gannon (19-23, 12-16 PSAC West), Edinboro (6-40, 4-24 PSAC West)
Location: Edinboro Softball Field – Edinboro, Pa.
Date: May 3, 2026
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME ONE
Edinboro struck first with a two-run home run in the opening inning before Gannon answered in the fourth when
Lindsay Breuer (Mason, Ohio/Mason) scored on a throwing error.
The Golden Knights grabbed a 3-2 lead in the fifth as
Ashley Fox (Cowansville, Pa./Karns City) launched a solo home run and
Emily Spears (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area) followed with an RBI single.
After Edinboro regained the lead in the bottom half,
Mia Ryan (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) tied the game at 4-4 with a solo homer in the sixth.
The Fighting Scots responded with a seven-run sixth inning to pull away and claim the opener.
THE KNIGHT CAP – GAME ONE
- Fox goes deep: Ashley Fox (Cowansville, Pa./Karns City) hit her second home run of the weekend.
- Ryan adds another: Mia Ryan (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) launched a solo homer in the sixth inning.
- Smerick two hits: Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
- Balanced attack: Gannon totaled eight hits in the opener.
- Spears drives in one: Emily Spears (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area) recorded an RBI single.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME TWO
Gannon answered an early 2-0 deficit with a seven-run second inning and never looked back.
Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) delivered an RBI single,
Lindsay Breuer (Mason, Ohio/Mason) added a two-run single,
Alli Novick (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney Community) drove in one with a double, and
Sadie Carroll (North Canton, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) capped the rally with a two-run single.
After Edinboro tied the game at 7-7 in the third, the Golden Knights regained control with three runs in the fifth, four in the sixth, and three more in the seventh.
Jenna Clontz (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) blasted a grand slam during the sixth inning, while
Alaina Whipkey (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) and
Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) added home runs in the seventh to cap the offensive outburst.
THE KNIGHT CAP – GAME TWO
- Season-high scoring: Gannon's 17 runs marked a season high.
- 20-hit attack: The Golden Knights pounded out 20 hits in the season finale.
- Clontz powers offense: Jenna Clontz (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) went 3-for-5 with six RBIs, including a grand slam.
- Smerick sensational: Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) finished 5-for-6 with three RBIs and three runs scored.
- Breuer produces: Lindsay Breuer (Mason, Ohio/Mason) went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored.
- Novick adds three hits: Alli Novick (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney Community) collected three hits and two RBIs.
- Westmiller earns win: Jessica Westmiller (Buffalo, N.Y./Williamsville East) tossed 4.1 innings of relief to secure the victory.
This story was written using the support of AI
