EDINBORO, Pa. (April 16, 2016) – The Edinboro University softball team received solid contributions from a trio of freshman in Saturday afternoons opening contest as the Fighting Scots took game one of the scheduled doubleheader en route to an afternoon split with local rival Gannon. Edinboro scored a 2-1 victory in the first game before Gannon rebounded with a 7-3 win in the final game of the afternoon. With the split the Fighting Scots are now 9-17 overall and 3-9 in the PSAC West while Gannon comes out of Saturday's twinbill with a 17-15 overall mark and a 9-7 record in the West.
 
The Fighting Scots conclude their stretch of four PSAC West doubleheaders in four days tomorrow afternoon, hosting another local rival, Mercyhurst, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
Game One – Edinboro 2, Gannon 1
The Fighting Scots were able to get the day started on a positive note, snapping a four-game losing streak with the defeat of Gannon in the opening contest.
 
Edinboro received a strong showing in the circle from freshman pitcher Carley Nasca as she picked up her fourth victory of the year to improve to 4-6. Nasca pitched a complete game, striking out four batters while giving up just four hits and an unearned run. The freshman was able to set down the side in order in five innings, including recording a one-two-three inning in the seventh inning to preserve the one-run victory.
 

The Fighting Scots bats did all their damage in the third inning. Trailing 1-0, MaryLouise Lindner reached first on an error by the left fielder and advanced to second on the error. Freshman Danna Heh reached first on a bunt single to advance Lidner and Heh stole second on the next at-bat which put runners on second and third for fellow freshman Olivia Jankowski. Jankowski cashed in, doubling to right center, her fourth double of the season, to score both runners and give Edinboro a 2-1 lead.
 
Gannon recorded just three hits in the final four innings as the Fighting Scots recorded their third victory over the Lady Knights this season.
 
Olivia Gumbita received the loss for Gannon, pitching six innings with three strikeouts while giving up five hits. With the loss, Gumbita sits at 10-7 on the season.
 
Game Two – Gannon 7, Edinboro 3
Following the game one victory, the Fighting Scots were looking to record a season-sweep of their local PSAC West rivals, but unfortunately it did not come to fruition. The Lady Knights jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second thanks to RBIs from Autumn Smith and Nathaly Pacheco.
 
The Gannon lead grew to 3-0 in the top of the fourth when Jackie Martinez singled home a run from third. Edinboro broke through with runs of their own in the bottom half of the fourth. Leadoff batter Olivia Jankowski singled to left and Haley Struebing was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Following a throwing error on the next at-bat, both Jankowski and Struebing came around to score to cut the lead to 3-2.
 
The Lady Knights grew the lead back up to three runs in the top of the next inning as a pinch hit single from Allie Salerno drove in a pair of runners to give Gannon a 6-2 lead. The Fighting Scots responded with a one-run bottom of the fifth when leadoff batter Heather Tighe and pinch hitter Taylor Payne began the inning with singles. Danna Heh singled home Tighe from third on a bunt single to cut the Gannon lead to 6-3.
 
Gannon added an insurance run in the top of the sixth and the Fighting Scots were set down in order the final two innings as Gannon's Kellyn Perich recorded her sixth win of the year to improve to 6-6. Perich pitched all seven innings, giving up five hits with no strikeouts or walks.
 
Kerri Stevens recorded the loss for Edinboro, dropping her record to 2-6 on the season. Stevens tossed 3.2 innings with two strikeouts and one walk while giving up three runs.