Erie’s recent bouts of inclement weather may have postponed four of the Gannon University softball team’s eight games last week, but it couldn’t stop Megan Dragon.
The sophomore pitcher logged three complete games, going 2-1 for the Knights as the team pushed its record to 13-11 on the season, and made it look easy, according to coach Tom Jakubowski.
“Megan was in complete control,” Jakubowski said. “She’s really hit her stride recently.”
Dragon started off her dominant week in the first game of a home doubleheader against Edinboro University Wednesday, as she squared off against the Fighting Scots Kari Falk. The two pitchers stymied opposing batters for the entire game, each squad only mustering two hits apiece. The only scores of the game came during the first, when an Edinboro error extended the inning, allowing two Knights to score.
The Knights offense went cold after the gift-wrapped opening frame, but Dragon didn’t need any more help, striking out 14 during the two-hitter to shut down the Scots for the win.
Gannon started the flame-throwing sophomore to start the second game of the doubleheader, but this time, the Scots were able to fight back.
Both teams traded runs in the first, second and fourth innings before Edinboro opened up the sixth with back-to-back hits to move ahead 4-3. The Knights had an opportunity to plate the tying run in the bottom of the seventh, but Gannon couldn’t take advantage of a pair of walks by Fighting Scots pitcher Amanda Shields, leaving both runners on base, two of eight for the entire game, something Jakubowski said has been plaguing Gannon all season. “I want to see a total of how many runners we’ve left on base as a team,” Jakubowski said. “I bet you we lead the league in that category.”
On Sunday, the Knights would have loved to even see some base runners. Luckily, Dragon topped her two-hit performance from Wednesday, flirting with a no-hitter until the final inning in the first game of a home doubleheader against Point Park University.
Gannon only needed four hits, most notably freshman designated player Rachel Meyer’s second inning RBI single, to provide enough offense for Dragon, who struck out 11 batters to give her 33 total for the week. Over the three-game stretch, Dragon posted an ERA of just 1, while holding opposing batters to a .130 batting average, despite limited offensive support, a turnaround the sophomore said she focused on before the games.
“I wasn’t happy with the way I was throwing,” Dragon said. “It wasn’t mechanic, it was more mental. I just worked on calling pitches and let my offense and defense do the rest.”
After starting the past three games, Gannon handed the ball to sophomore pitcher Erica Bartholow for the second game. The Knights left the bases loaded in both the first and second, leaving the game scoreless until Point Park’s Theresa Davis lined a solo shot out of the park in the third. Bartholow allowed two more to score in the fourth to fall behind 3-0 before she got by with a little help from her friends.
The slumbering Gannon lumber awoke in the bottom of fourth, when sophomore first baseman Tiffani Danks opened up a five-run barrage with a two-run shot to left field. The Knights remained relentless over the final two innings, scoring eight to enforce the mercy rule for a 12-4 win, something Dragon said that the team should see more of as the season progresses.
“Our hard work and desire will get us there,” Dragon said. “We really worked together and the games show.”
The Knights will travel to crosstown rival Mercyhurst College for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference showdown Wednesday.
