Battle of the Gierlaks: Father and son matchup ends in a split

By Cassandra Ercoli, Sports Reporter

It was a homecoming affair for Edinboro Head Coach Dan Gierlak who faced his son on the Demske Sports Complex when the Division II Fighting Scots split the midweek series against the Canisius Golden Griffins. 

“It was bittersweet. I love doing it. It’s great to see him come along and accomplish what he has accomplished and going to accomplish,” said Gierlak in a postgame interview when talking about facing his son, Joe Gierlak. 

After serving as the assistant coach last year to Kim Griffin, Joe Gierlak took on the head coach position after Griffin stepped away to pursue a career in mental health counseling. It took only two games to achieve his first career win as head coach against Middle Tennessee on Feb. 13, and was able to sweep a MAAC opponent just last week, a feat that had not been accomplished in two years. 

A native of Buffalo, Dan Gierlak graduated from Edinboro University and enters his 32nd season as the head coach for his alma mater. During his time at the university, Dan Gierlak has guided the Fighting Scots to eight 20-win campaigns and a bid to the NCAA tournament in 2007. On the other hand, Joe Gierlak began his collegiate coaching career under his father when he stepped in as a volunteer coach and assistant coach until the 2021 season. 

“My family vacations weren't going to Myrtle Beach or anything like that – it was a 24-hour bus ride to Florida sponsored by Edinboro University," said Joe Gierlak when asked how much he owed his career to his father. “I owe everything to Edinboro University and my dad and my mom and growing up with a softball program. It means a lot to me.”

In Game 1 of the Gierlaks’ matchup, the Golden Griffins jumped to a 6–0 lead after three innings. A Grace Walker single opened the flood gates in the first after her single brought in a run and loaded the bases. Freshman Abby Post batted in Ella Johel for her first run batted in since Feb. 21 before Alyssa Onyeagwa sent two more runners in the first inning. 

After the Fighting Scots tacked on a run in the top of the fourth, Onyeagwa’s home run in the bottom ballooned the Blue and Gold’s league to 10–1. Edinboro fought off the mercy-rule by adding three runs in the fifth inning. Canisius was unable to add any more runs, but took the decisive 10–4 victory. 

In the circle, Canisius sent out sophomore Taylor McManus who recorded her first win of the season. After surpassing her season-high in pitch count and facing seven different batters in the fifth inning, junior Olivia Manchester closed the game striking out two and giving up just one hit.

In Game 2, Canisius gave the ball to freshman pitcher Brooke Bodewes, who’s seen time sparingly for the Griffs. Bodewes completed just two innings before junior Liv Herrington took the circle after walking three batters and hitting another two, including giving the first two batters of the third free bases. 

The Fighting Scots took a 1–0 lead in the first inning after a Cassidy Weller single sent home a runner. Pitcher Grace Kessel then went three-up, three-down in the bottom of the first before giving up the tying run in the second. 

In the top of the third of Game 2, after inheriting a two-on, nobody out situation, Liv Herrington struck out the first batter she saw, but gave up singles to the next two batters to give Edinboro a 3-1 lead. After yet another three-and-done for the Griffs in the bottom of the third, the Griffs turned to the veterans. 

A leadoff triple by Johel got the bats going after Sofia Escoto sent her teammate home on a single. Down by a run, a fielder’s choice and single saw two Griffs on base, but Kessel was able to shut down the rally, recording two straight outs with Canisius threatening. 

Edinboro would add a run in the fifth and two more in a lengthy seventh inning. Lucy Higley launched only her second home run of the season for the Fighting Scots’ sixth and final run of the ballgame. Grace Kessel was able to keep the starving Griffs at bay in the final inning to claim her first win of the season by tossing a complete game, striking out four batters and surrendering eight hits. 

While the win marked the Fighting Scots’ fifth win of the season, Dan Gierlak continues to amount to his historic tally over his 37 years and 1,300 career games as head coach with his 525th win. His son, Joe Gierlak, may be miles away from the Edinboro coach, but the Game 1 win marked just his 13th win of his young career.

“I could not have asked for a better day to bring my dad up,” said the Canisius head coach. “Would I have liked to have taken two? Sure. But it was more fitting that it was one and one.” 

Now on the outside looking in for a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference playoff spot, the Griffs will remain in Buffalo to faceoff against the MAAC-leading Marist Red Foxes, who come in with a five-game winning streak and having already clinched a playoff spot. 

Doubleheader action is set to begin on Friday at 3 p.m. with the series finale scheduled for noon on Saturday. 

Joe Gierlak coaching (via Tom Wolf)