G1: Neumann 1, Keystone 0
G2: Neumann 18, Keystone 2 (5 inn.)
ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University softball team opened Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) play with a pair of wins over Keystone College on Saturday afternoon. Game scores were 1-0 and 18-2 (5 innings).
In game one, Mariah Ripken scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning for the 1-0 win. Ripken started the inning with a single. Lauren Strack also singled for runners on first and second. Deanna Christy then bunted for a single. On the same play, Keystone's committed an error that allowed Ripken to score for the win.
Rachel Purpuro went the distance and allowed just two hits for the win. She struck out the first 10 batters and 16 total, a single-game record (according to our records).
In the second game, Keystone plated a run in the first inning for an early 1-0 lead. Neumann answered with three runs in the bottom of the first. Jacki Herrington knocked in two runs with a double.
In the second inning, Kim Kirkpatick hit a two-run homerun, her first of two in the game, as the Knights went on to score five runs in the inning. In Kirkpatrick's next at-bat, she hit a solo shot for a 9-2 Neumann lead.
The Knights bats came alive in the bottom of the fourth and they plated nine in the inning. Lauren Strack knocked in two runs with a single.
Brittany Campbell pitched 5.0 innings for the win and struck out four.
Neumann is now 8-6 on the season, 2-0 in the CSAC. The Knights will travel to Alvernia tomorrow for a doubleheader, rescheduled form last week due to the weather.
