The Mercyhurst University softball team split a doubleheader with Gannon University on Saturday, April 12. The Lakers went into the contest, 2-5, in the Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference against the undefeated Golden Knights.

After a joint effort on the mound by seniors Annie Truelove and in relief, Alexandra Puckly, the Lakers took down Gannon 6-4 in the first of two games.

The win over Gannon pitted the Lakers starting pitcher, Truelove, against the Golden Knights sophomore Olivia Gumbita. Truelove threw four innings only giving up four hits and one earned run, leaving Gumbita with her only loss of the season.

Senior Alexandra Puckly came in for relief in the fifth inning, giving up two runs off of a homerun by Alyssa Bates, scoring the first run for the Golden Knights. Puckly finished off the inning and held Gannon to two hits and one earned run in the final two innings.

Mercyhurst offense responded to every run from Gannon, taking the lead, 3-1, in the bottom of the third. The Lakers took pulled ahead of Gannon in the fifth inning. The successful work at the plate in the fifth by Becky Malaga, Courtney Brothers, Kayla Larson, Tawny Godin and Francesca Costanzo the Lakers took the lead 6-3 and surrendered one more run, earning the 6-4 win.

Gannon edged out the Lakers, winning in the 10th inning. The only lead of the game for the Lakers came in the bottom of the sixth with a solo homerun over the left field fence by Brothers, making the game 8-7.

Gannon responded, tying the game 8-8 in the top of the seventh. It remained that way until the Golden Knights finally broke away in the tenth.

Mercyhurst scored one run in the bottom of the tenth off of an RBI by Shannon Minihane, but the Lakers fell after consecutive groundouts, ending the game 12-9 in favor of the Golden Knights.

The wins against the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and Gannon broke a four game losing streak.

“We needed to get some wins under our belts to gain confidence,” Truelove said.

The tough winter caused the Lakers to miss ten games. However, six of those games are scheduled for later in the season. .

“It’s like cabin fever being stuck in the gym again due to weather. We just want sunshine and games. It’s also stressful trying to keep up with missed classes, but we all get through as a team,” Brothers said.

The Lakers next home game is a doubleheader against Edinboro on Wednesday, April 15 at 2:30 p.m.