ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University softball team defeated Wesley College 5-1 in the first game of the best-of-three Atlantic East Championship series on Friday afternoon.
 
Jen Sieminski started the game by sending the first nine Wolverines down-in-order, including seven strike outs. She scattered four hits and a run over the next four innings en route to the 5-1 win. The junior struck out 13 batters in the game.
 
Neumann got on the board with three runs in the first inning. Grace Sperrazza led off the third with a single and advanced to second on an error. Bri Lagroteria followed with a single for runners at the corners. Sperrazza scored on a sacrifice fly by Jackie Selby. With two runners on and two outs, Kierstin Fallers hit a two-run single for a 3-0 lead.
 
The Knights added two insurance runs in the sixth inning. Vanessa Bowen walked to lead off the inning. With two outs, Sperrazza hit an RBI double to score Bowen. Sperrazza then scored on a single by Lagroteria for a 5-0 advantage.
 
The Wolverines plated their lone run in the top of the seventh.
 
Neumann (28-12) and Wesley (19-21) will meet tomorrow in the second day of the Atlantic East Championship series. First pitch is slated for 1:00 PM. The if necessary game would follow at 3:00 PM, if needed.