ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University softball team defeated Alvernia University in a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. Game scores were 11-9 and 2-1.

In game one, the Crusaders came out of the gate with a bang and knocked out two homeruns for five runs in the top of the first inning.

After taking a 6-0 lead into the third inning, the Knights bats started to come alive. Mariah Ripken got things started with a lead-off triple. She then scored on a throwing error. Crystal Perlman then hit a bases clearing double before scoring herself on a single by Allyson Parris.

Alvernia answered with two runs in the fourth inning and one in the sixth to take a 9-5 advantage heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.

In the home part of the sixth inning, Becca Reinhart and Callie Emel each hit a two-run homerun to knot the game at 9-9. Ripken and Megan Williams continued the rally with back-to-back RBI singles for an 11-9 Knights lead.

Kristin Beaty picked up her first collegiate win, shutting the Crusaders down for three innings in relief. Sarah McGann started the game and went four innings.

Game two was a low scoring affair. Parris knocked in Ripken in the second inning for a 1-0 Neumann lead. Alvernia took advantage of a Knight error in the fifth inning to tie the game.

In the bottom of the seventh, with two outs and runners on first and second, Jacki Herrington hit a single to left to score Reinhart and complete the sweep.

Parris pitched the complete game for the win. She struck out three in 7.0 innings while allowing one unearned run.

Neumann (15-13) will host Baptist Bible on Friday in conference action beginning at 3:00 PM at the Aston Community Center.