ERIE, Pa. — Pitt-Johnstown could not cool off Gannon's bats, suffering 9-1 and 12-4 losses in a doubleheader sweep on Saturday afternoon at McConnell Family Field.
The Mountain Cats slipped to 15-24 (8-16 PSAC). Despite currently sitting in seventh, they remain alive for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Western Division, two games back of California (Pa.) and Gannon.
Game 1: Gannon 9, Pitt-Johnstown 1 (6 innings)
Pitt-Johnstown grabbed its only lead of the day in the first after Meghan McDonough walked and scored on an Isabella DePalma RBI double to the gap in left-center field to make it 1-0.
The Golden Knights answered with a run in the bottom of the inning before taking a 3-1 lead in the second that would never fade away. The game was put out of reach in the fourth when Gannon scored five runs on six hits to go up 8-1.
Mia Smith suffered the loss in the circle, giving up nine runs, eight earned, on 12 hits over 5.2 innings to go along with five strikeouts and two walks.
McDonough doubled to lead off the third before being left stranded. Keira Link singled to begin the fifth, but was erased on a double play one batter later.
Game 2: Gannon 12, Pitt-Johnstown 4 (5 innings)
The Mountain Cats were held without a hit through the first three innings. Gannon, meanwhile, scored a run apiece in the first and third to take a 2-0 advantage.
Kylie Mettrick sparked the offense in the fourth with a one-out double. With two outs, Jessica Pugh launched a 2-run home run to knot it at 2-all.
Gannon, however, scored 10 times on five hits with the help of two errors in the fourth to take a 12-2 lead.
McDonough laced a one-out RBI single in the fifth before DePalma worked a two-out, bases-loaded walk that made it 12-4, but it wasn't enough to extend the game. Gianna Surra and Brynnae Coe each singled and scored a run for the Mountain Cats, who recorded six hits.
Avery Smiach was handed the loss after surrendering 10 runs, eight earned, on six hits. She struck out six and walked seven. Gianna Stanek tossed two-thirds of an inning in relief.
Mackenzie Wade earned the win for the Golden Knights, who moved to 17-19 (10-12 PSAC).
Pitt-Johnstown will have nearly a full week off before hosting IUP in a PSAC West doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. Friday, May 1.
