ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University softball team finished the season 19-3 in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) action and will be the No. 2 seed heading into the playoffs this weekend.
The tournament will be held at Hackettstown High School in Hackettstown, N.J. Centenary is the top seed heading into the postseason, also finishing 19-3 in conference action. Both Neumann and Centenary received a bye in the first round.
In first round action, No. 3 Marywood defeated No. 6 Keystone, 7-1. No. 5 Baptist Bible defeated No. 4 Immaculata 9-7 in 9 innings. The Knights will face Marywood game while the Cyclones will host the winner of the Baptist Bible game.
Neumann is led this season by CSAC Rookie of the Year Allie White. White finished the regular season batting .475 with six homeruns, two triples, 12 doubles, 38 runs scored and 27 RBI. The centerfielder started in 33 of the teams 38 games. She has a slugging percentage of .763 and struck out only twice in 118 at-bats. In the field, she committed just one error for a .971 field percentage.
Becca Reinhart has started all 38 games for the Knights this season. She leads the team with 64 hits and 11 stolen bases. The freshman has a batting average of .508 with two homeruns, three triples, eight doubles, 43 runs scored and 30 RBI. She also has an on-base percentage of .556 and a slugging percentage of .667. At second base, she has a field percentage of .963.
Jacki Herrington has a team-high seven homeruns and 36 RBI while batting .407. Crystal Perlman leads the team with 11 doubles in 38 games this season. She is batting .339 with four homeruns, a triple, 43 hits, 33 runs scored and 32 RBI. Mariah Ripken is second on the team with nine doubles. She is batting .370 with two homeruns, two triples, 37 hits and 26 runs scored and RBI.
In the circle, Rachel Purpuro has an 11-5 overall record. In 93.1 innings pitched, she has a team-high 82 strikeouts and three shutouts.
Two of Neumann's three losses came against Marywood this season by scores of 10-4 and 13-12 in 9 innings. The Knights split with the Cyclones, falling 11-9 in 10 innings and winning 15-2 in 5 innings. Neumann swept Baptist Bible 15-2 in 5 innings and 10-4.
Neumann finished the regular season 24-14 overall and 19-3 in CSAC action. The Knights will be the No. 2 seed in the postseason and will begin play on Friday.
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