ERIE — It took a while, but the DeMatteis twins are a battery again.

And the Gannon University softball team is rolling as a result.

Moniteau graduates Kennedy and Kristina DeMatteis were four-year starters with the Warriors. The former pitched, the latter caught. They were all-conference players all four years and were all-state players by their senior year.

Moniteau reached the PIAA championship game with the twin battery leading the way.

Now both are in their fourth year as starters at Gannon and have met with similar success in terms of wins and losses. Only Kristina has been the Golden Knights' third baseman while Kennedy remained in the pitching circle.

“We had a solid catcher and we wanted Kristina's bat in the lineup,” coach Michelle Wiley said. “She's been pretty effective at third base for us.”

Kristina had no problem making the move.

“I played a lot of third base and shortstop for my travel team, so I had experience there,” she said. “If it made the team better — and it did — I had no problem with it.”

Gannon won the PSAC championship with the DeMatteis twins starting as freshmen. The Golden Knights won the Mid-Atlantic Regional as well before bowing out in the Super Regional.

As sophomores, the twins were part of a Gannon team that lost the PSAC title game, but still advanced to Mid-Atlantic Regional play.

Last year, the team was 9-8 before their season fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, Kristina is back behind the plate.

“We had a need there and she's filled it very well,” Wiley said.

“I like pitching to her, but I did fine with the other catchers, too,” Kennedy said. “Kristina does a good job calling pitches and that makes my job easier.”

Gannon is riding an eight-game winning streak, improving its PSAC record to 13-5. The Golden Knights are contending for the league championship again.

“Those two have developed into leaders now,” Wiley said. “It's been fun watching them grow as people.

“We have a large freshman class, nine this year, and we'll have six or seven more freshmen next year. Kennedy and Kristina will be back next year as well and their leadership will benefit our younger players.”

Kristina has hit 17 home runs in her collegiate career. Kennedy has won more than 30 games at Gannon and pitched seven complete games in her first nine starts in 2021.

She pitched both ends of a doubleheader sweep against Slippery Rock this season.

“I've done that maybe three or four times,” Kennedy said of tossing both ends of a doubleheader. “It gets tiring, but you get into a groove and you want to finish what you start.”

Kennedy and Kristina are accounting majors. They are on pace to graduate this spring, but will return to graduate school and take advantage of the extra year of collegiate softball eligibility granted by the NCAA due to last year's shortened campaign.

“We appreciate all of this time we've played softball together, but I appreciate all of my teammates,” Kristina said. “When we're in uniform and on the field together, she's another one of my teammates.”

Kennedy agreed.

“When we get older, I'm sure we'll look back on all of this,” she said. “For now, we're still in softball mode.”

And winning mode.

“Those two love to compete,” Wiley said. “They've been a big part of our success from the day they got here.

“I'm just happy it's going to continue.”