February 23, 2024/Midnight
Erie, Pa., — The Golden Knights Softball team traveled down to Smyrna, Tennessee for the 2024 Music City Invitational on Friday, February 16, and Saturday 17. The team battled for a successful debut, winning their first game 3-2 over Tiffin University.
The morning game started slowly, with no runs till the bottom of the third inning by Tiffin. Sophomore Alaina Whipkey assisted in the first run of the season for the Knights, with a two-out single RBI to left field giving first-year teammate Bella Atherton the chance to score from third base at the top of the sixth inning. This put the game to a 1-1 tie.
Tiffin responded, however, with an RBI double, notching their lead 1-2. Gannon continued to rally, starting at the top of the seventh with two bases loaded. Atherton launched a single to the middle, gaining two RBIs and putting two more home runs on the board for Gannon. Atherton ended 2- for 3 at the plate, and the Knights pulled away with a 3-2 victory over Tiffin.
This would be Gannon’s only win over their time in Tennessee, highlighting a talented, young roster both at bat and in the field. First-year Katie Armstrong made her career start with eleven strikeouts.
The Knights split their pair of games on Friday, falling to Trevecca Nazarene 9-2. Gannon took a quick lead with a Double and RBI by Junior Natalia Mallozzi. The play was busy, with junior Abbey Girman out at second, Whipkey still able to score putting the Knights up 0-1. The Trevecca Trojans, however, dominated the last four innings. With four runs in just the fourth inning, Gannon quickly fell behind 4-1. Another score by the Trojans at the top of the fifth. Gannon answered, with first-year Emma Smerick hitting a triple and batting in senior teammate Gabi Vasi. The Knights did not answer the rest of the game, giving up three more runs and putting the final score at 9-2
Saturday, the Knights opened against the Drury Panthers. Smerick opened the game with a bang, scoring an inside-the-park homerun. The Knights would lead the game 8-0 until the bottom of the third, where Drury scored seven runs. The Panthers tied the game with another run in the bottom of the fifth. At the bottom of the sixth, Drury continued their stampede scoring five more runs. The final four runs came on an inside-the-park grand slam.
The Knights would conclude their time at the Music City Invitational against the No. 10 ranked Indianapolis Greyhounds. The Knights suffered four errors, all of which Indianapolis took advantage of to score five runs. By the fourth inning, Gannon scored 4 runs, 3 of which happened at the top of the fourth. These were then quickly answered by an Indianapolis 3 runs. The game concluded with a win for the ranked Greyhounds 10-7.
The Knights are back in action at the Glenville State Tournament in Glenville, West Virginia. Gannon will face Glenville State, West Virginia Wesleyan, Frostburg State, and West Virginia State. Gannon’s home opener will be at McConnell Family Stadium Wednesday, March 13 against Westminster.
