Gannon Hurlers Silence AU Bats in Softball Sweep
April 29, 2005

By Paul Carmany, AU Sports Information

Complete Box Scores
Game 1         Game 2

Gannon pitchers Jenn Kulick and Lauren Soldner made Ashland’s bats as cold as the unseasonably chilly late-April weather Friday afternoon (Apr. 29) at Brookside Park. The two underclassmen limited Eagle batters to no runs and six hits, enabling the Golden Knights to sweep a critical conference twinbill by matching 3-0 scores.

Gannon improves to 26-13 overall and 9-5 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play. Ashland, now the loser of six straight contests, sits at 27-19 overall and 8-8 in conference games.

The Knights plated a pair of runs in the top of the first inning in the opener off of Eagle ace Jaime Williams. Allison Gerger had the big hit, a two-out, two-run single into left-center.

Two innings later, Gannon cleanup hitter Joanna Fergus made the count 3-0 with an RBI single to right.

AU mounted a couple of offensive threats in the late innings. They had runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but Jennifer Alderson lined into a double play.

The Eagles had runners at second and third in the last of the seventh inning before Alderson flew out to center to end the game.

Gannon’s Kulick was the winning pitcher, yielding just five hits and improving to 12-6. Williams took the loss and is now 17-9.

The Golden Knights took the early lead in game two as well. Fergus and Gerger each provided RBIs to give the team from Erie, PA, a 2-0 lead after one inning.

That proved to be more than enough run support for Soldner, who limited Eagle hitters to just one base hit, a third inning single by Danielle Rychener.

Fergus added a bit of insurance in the fifth inning, knocking a home run over the right field fence. That 3-0 Gannon lead held up as the final score.

Soldner, who struck out nine Eagles, is now 14-7. Alderson took the loss for AU and is now 5-6.

Ashland will wrap up the home portion of its schedule Saturday (Apr. 30) at Brookside Park, starting at noon. The Eagles will host Mercyhurst (17-18, 7-9 GLIAC) for a doubleheader. Prior to the first game, Eagle seniors Laurie Black, Michelle Congrove, Sara Mathes, Jennifer Pistone, Nicole Placie, Christy Raymond and Abby Wuthrick will be recognized.