ECAC South Tournament
Neumann 5, PSU-Altoona 3 – 9 inn.
Neumann 2, Catholic 1
Catholic 5, Neumann 4
SCRANTON, Pa. – The Neumann University softball team fell just short of the ECAC South Championship, falling to Catholic University 5-4 in the deciding game. Earlier in the day, the Knights defeated Penn State-Altoona 5-3 in 9 innings and Catholic 2-1.
In the elimination game against PSU-Altoona, it took nine innings, but the Knights came out on top 5-3. The Lions scored first in the fifth inning. Down one and heading into the seventh, Callie Emel hit a single with one out. Alyssa Falsetti came in to pinch run and moved to second on a passed ball. Megan Williams came to the plate as a pinch hitter with two outs and a runner on second. She knocked the ball to center field for and RBI single and a tie game.
Both teams would score two runs in the eighth inning for a 3-3 game. The Knights put two runs on the board in the top of the ninth inning. Katie Halter had an RBI groundout. Rachel Purpuro sent the Lions down in order in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Knights advanced to the Championship game.
Sarah McGann started the game and went 5.2 innings. She allowed one run on four hits. Carley Gustin pitched one inning. Purpuro went 2.1 innings in relief for the win.
Catholic struck first in the first inning of the Championship. The Knights were held to just one hit until the sixth inning. Mariah Ripken led the inning off with a double. She came around to score on a triple by Allie White. White scored the eventual winning run on a passed ball.
Allyson Parris started the game and went 1.1 innings. Purpuro struck out four in 5.2 innings for the win and to send the tournament to a deciding game.
The Cardinals scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 5-4 win and the ECAC South Region Title.
Kristin Beaty hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning to score Jacki Herrington and take a 1-0 lead. Catholic answered with a run in the bottom of the second. Catholic answered with a run in the bottom of the second.
The Knights put another run on the board in the top of the third, this time the Cardinals answered with two runs for a 3-2 score after three.
Neumann took a 4-3 lead with two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Catholic won the back and forth battle with two runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Neumann ends its season 30-18 overall.
