ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University softball team swept Penn State Abington in a doubleheader to open the 2021 campaign on Saturday afternoon. The Knights defeated the Lions 8-0 in five innings in the first game. Neumann then walked-off with a 7-6 win in game two.
In game one,
Ashlynne Scardino picked up her first collegiate win, going 5.0 shutout innings while allowing just four hits. She stuck out four.
The Knights didn't waste anytime and put two runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning.
Morgan Fitzpatrick doubled to score
Bri Lagroteria and then came around to score on a single by
Rachel Albertson.
Kaylee Fiocca knocked in Albertson in the third for a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the fourth,
Elizabeth Shire singled to bring in Lagroteria and
Emily Reid.
In the fifth, after the first three batters reached base,
Jess Sarni hit a two-run pinch-hit single. Lagroteria then grounded out, but
Kristen Pagliaro scored fromthird to end the contest.
In game two, Shire finished with four RBI and had a hand in six of the runs.
Janiece Robles started the game in the circle and went 4.2 innings. She allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits and stuck out three. Sarni got her first collegiate win, going 2.1 innings. She also allowed three runs, one earned, on four hits and struck out three.
Again, the Knights struck quickly, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. After two walks to start the inning, the runners moved up on a ground out. Lagroteria and Reid both scored on a single by Shire.
The Lions got on the board with an unearned run in the third inning. Penn State Abington plated two runs in the top of the fifth for a 3-2 advantage.
Neumann took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth. Shire reached on an error, which allowed
Ashley Leicht and Reid to score.
The back and forth continued and the Lions took retook the lead, 5-4, in the top of the sixth. Penn State Abington plated another unearned run in the top of the seventh to take a 6-4 advantage.
Lagroteria and Reid opened the bottom of the seventh with walks. Fitzpatrick knocked in Lagoteria on an RBI single and advanced to second on the throw. With two in scoring position and no one out, Shire doubled to left field to score Reid and Fitzpatrick for the come-from-behind walk-off win.
Neumann (2-0) will travel to New Jersey City University on Thursday for more non-conference action. The doubleheader is slated to get underway at 3:00 PM.
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