ERIE, Pa. - The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s top-ranked softball pitching staff continued its dominance Monday afternoon at Gannon University Field. No. 19 California (Pa.) limited Gannon to three hits in game one and Maria Greco tossed a no-hitter in game two as the Vulcans swept a PSAC West doubleheader by scores of 3-1 and 3-0.
In the nightcap, Greco was fabulous from start to finish. The junior right-hander allowed only two Gannon base runners in the first inning.
Sam Scott (New Baltimore, Mich./Anchor Bay) reached first on an error with one out. California second baseman Merissa Daley made a nice diving play to her left and threw a perfect strike to first, but the first baseman dropped the ball for an error.
Kristin Schalk (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) was hit by the next pitch, putting runners at first and second.
However, Greco got out of the jam by getting the second out on a fielder’s choice and retiring the side with a strikeout. Schalk would be the last Lady Knight to reach base as Greco retired the final 20 batters she faced. Shortstop Jillian Russell made a great play from the hole to retire
Kels Fedell (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) to end the game.
California (Pa.) scored the first run in the fourth. The Vulcans then tacked on two insurance runs with solo home runs by Danielle Easton and Alyson Johnson in the sixth.
Megan Dragon (Ashtabula, Ohio/Edgewood) suffered the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits in six innings. The true freshman struck out seven and walked none.
Erica Bartholow (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville Area) threw a scoreless inning of relief.
In the opener, California (Pa.) struck first with two runs in the fourth inning. Back-to-back RBI singles by Kayleigh Braim and Merissa Daley plated the runs.
Each team scored a run in the seventh inning.
Ashley Petrone (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) scored Gannon’s lone run on a two-out error.
Scott,
Sarah Rinks (Fenton, Mich./Lake Fenton) and
Katie Killian (Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary) recorded Gannon’s three hits in game one.
Kelsey Brickman (Sylvania, Ohio/Notre Dame Academy) took the loss, surrendering three runs on seven hits in seven innings. The senior struck out three and walked six.
Gannon dropped to 16-21 overall and 2-12 in the PSAC West. California (Pa.) improved to 28-9 overall and 13-1 in conference play. The Lady Knights conclude the regular season Tuesday, April 20 at Edinboro. The PSAC West twinbill is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
For a complete box score from the first game of Monday’s Gannon-California softball doubleheader, please
click here.
For a complete box score from the second game of Monday’s Gannon-California softball doubleheader, please
click here.