CENTERVILLE, Pa. – The Neumann University softball team has earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III South Softball Championship.

The tournament is an eight-team field with a single-elimination quarterfinal round followed by a double-elimination format for the four remaining teams.

Neumann will host eighth seeded Misericordia University on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the first round. The two teams split a doubleheader a few weeks ago in non-conference play. The Knights won the first game 4-3 while the Cougars took game two 6-5.

Other first round games on Wednesday will be No. 2 Alvernia hosting No. 7 Marywood, No. 3 DeSales hosting No. 6 PSU-Altoona and No. 4 Stevenson University hosting No. 5 Wilson. The winners will advance to the semifinals and will be played at the highest remaining seed.

The Knights are currently 30-13 on the season. Neumann dropped the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Championship to Centenary College 12-11 on Saturday.

Neumann is led by CSAC Pitcher of the Year Rachel Purpuro. The junior is 14-3 on the season with an ERA of 2.26. In 102.2 innings of work, she has struck out 155. Brittany Campbell also leads the Knights in the circle. The senior is 12-7 on the season and has struck out 71 in 96 innings.

At the plate, Kelly Goslin and Callie Emel take charge. Goslin is batting .464 in 24 games. The freshman has 17 RBI and six homeruns. Emel is batting .439. The sophomore leads the team with seven homeruns, 54 hits and seven triples.

Jacki Herrington has been one of the consistent faces in the Knights line-up this season, playing in 42 of the 43 contests. The sophomore is batting .344 with 13 doubles and four homeruns. She also has a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Crystal Perlman has played in 42 games, starting 41. The sophomore has 38 RBI on 44 hits. She has scored 31 runs and has hit nine doubles and four homeruns.

2011 ECAC Division III South Softball Championship

First Round – Wednesday, May 11

No. 8 Misericordia at No. 1 Neumann, 3 p.m.

No. 7 Marywood at No. 2 Alvernia, 4 p.m.

No. 6 PSU-Altoona at No. 3 DeSales, 4 p.m.

No. 5 Wilson at No. 4 Stevenson, 3 p.m.

Double Elimination (Day 1) – Saturday, May 14 (at highest remaining seed)

Game 1: No. 1/No. 8 winner vs. No. 4/No. 5 winner

Game 2, No. 2/No. 7 winner vs. No. 6/No. 6 winner

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser (elimination game)

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner

Double Elimination (Day 2) – Sunday, May 15 (at highest remaining seed)

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner

Game 7: same teams as game 6, if necessary