ERIE, Pa. (April 21) – The Vulcans earned a doubleheader split with Gannon on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, suffering a 7-0 loss in Game 1 before posting a 3-2 victory in Game 2.
With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team sits at 12-12 this season behind a 6-4 record in league play. The Vulcans served as the home team in the doubleheader. Meanwhile, the Lady Knights stand at 20-11 overall with a 10-4 mark in divisional action.
In Game 2, junior
Carly Konopka (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) improved to 5-3 this year behind her first complete game since the 2016 campaign. She allowed two runs (one earned) and scattered six hits and one walk over 7.0 innings (106 pitches) while recording six strikeouts. Gannon starter Kennedy DeMatteis (7-7) suffered the loss after yielding three runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk in 4.0 innings.
The Lady Knights took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after a dropped flyball with two outs allowed a baserunner to score from second. Cal U benefited from a two-out error in the second inning to take a 2-1 lead. Senior designated player
Hailey Wilson (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy) reached on a one-out walk and senior left fielder
Kaylyn Roose (Akron, Ohio/Revere) followed with a single. The runners advanced on a ground-out to the right side of the infield before Wilson and Roose both scored on an error that allowed freshman catcher
Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) to reach base.
The Vulcans added to the lead in the third when junior right fielder
Abby Sachse (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton) delivered a two-out single that scored senior center fielder
Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) from second, 3-1. Gannon threatened in the top of the fourth following a leadoff double before the baserunner was eventually stranded at third. The Lady Knights later trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the seventh inning before being forced to leave the game-tying run at second. The inning started with a double and Gannon later had runners on the corners before a fielder's choice to the shortstop resulted in a run. The Lady Knights then had runners on first and second following an error before Konopka recorded a strikeout to end the game.
In Game 1, junior
Emilee Downing (Groveport, Ohio/Groveport Madison) was saddled with the loss after surrendering seven runs (all earned) on six hits and five walks in 6.2 innings (124 pitches). She also matched a career high with nine strikeouts on Saturday. Gannon sophomore Madi Beining (9-4) tossed a three-hit, complete-game shutout with five strikeouts over 7.0 innings (79 pitches).
The Lady Knights broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth on a two-run homer by designated player Kaity Stocker with two outs. Gannon then batted around in the fifth inning and scored three runs – each via a bases-loaded walk – to take a 5-0 lead. The Lady Knights added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh, as right fielder Rachel Tanilli delivered a bases-loaded double with two outs.
Cal U returns to action on Monday, April 23, when it travels play a doubleheader at Edinboro, starting at 2:30 p.m.
