ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University softball team defeated Marywood University 9-0 in five innings in a Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) first round contest on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Jen Sieminski went five scoreless innings for the win. She allowed five hits and struck out a pair. Julia Cox went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Grace Sperrazza hit a three-run game-ending homerun and finished with four RBI.
 
Sperrazza opened the bottom of the first inning with a double, but was stranded at third base. The Pacers threatened in the top of the second inning, but left the bases loaded.
 
Cox led off the bottom of the second inning with a single and scored on a double by Taylor Sirolli. Sirolli then scored on a single by Kate Korte' for a 2-0 Neumann lead. Jackie Schneider doubled with two outs in the third inning and scored on a single by Cox for a 3-0 lead.
 
In the fourth inning, the Knights sent nine batters to the plate as they scored three runs on six hits. Rachel Albertson led off with a single and was sacrificed over to second by Kristina Del Gaiso. Korte' followed with a single for runners at the corners. Albertson scored on a sacrifice fly by Sperrazza. Singles by Kierstin Fallers and Cox scored Korte' and Jackie Selby for a 6-0 lead.
 
With one out in the fifth inning and two runners on base, Sperrazza hit a homerun to left field to end the game and give the Knights the 9-0 win.
 
Neumann (22-14) will face Gwynedd Mercy in its first game on Friday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 12:00 PM.