Box Score
ASTON, Pa. - Crystal Perlman hit a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Neumann University softball team a come-from-behind 6-5 win over Cabrini College in the 2010 Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Championship game Saturday afternoon.
Cabrini advanced to the championship game after defeating Centenary College, 4-2, earlier in the day.
Perlman led the Knights offense on the afternoon going 3-for-4 from the plate with two RBIs. Kim Kirkpatrick had two RBIs and scored two runs. Jennifer Goslin went 2-for-2 with an RBI and three walks. Brittany Campbell pitched eight strong innings to secure the victory. Campbell improves to 11-5 on the season.
Cabrini's Ryan McDonough went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI. Marcelle Crist took the loss on the afternoon.
The Cavaliers took an early lead, scoring one run in the top of the first inning. The Knights quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning as Kirkpatrick hit a two-run double down the left field line. Goslin then stepped to the plate and drove in Kirkpatrick to extend Neumann's lead to 3-1. Campbell took control on the mound retiring 13 straight batters in just over four innings of work.
The Cavaliers got runners on base in the top of the sixth inning, scoring three runs to take a 4-3 lead. Neumann tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning on a Deanna Christy single to left center, forcing the game into extra innings.
Cabrini's Kerri MacNeal drove in a run to give the Cavilers a one run advantage in the top of the eighth. Neumann would not go quietly in the home half of the eighth. Kirkpatrick reach base as the first batter of the inning followed by a Goslin single to advance Kirkpatrick to third. Lauren Castiello would reach base on a walk, loading the bases. Perlman stepped to the plate with one out. The freshman ripped the ball down the right field line, driving in two runs and giving Neumann the 6-5 win. This is the third consecutive conference championship for the Knights.
After the game Campbell was named the CSAC Tournament MVP for going 3-0 from the mound in 16.2 innings and five strike outs.
The CSAC Championship gives Neumann an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Knights will find where they will travel to and who their first round opponent is on Monday during the selection show.
