DOVER, Del. – The Neumann University softball team was eliminated from the 2021 Atlantic East Conference postseason on Friday afternoon. The Knights fell to Immaculata 7-2 in their first game and then Wesley 12-7 in the nightcap.
In the first game against Immaculata, a late rally for the Mighty Macs lifted them to a 7-2 win.
Jess Sarni pitched a complete game in the circle in the loss and allowed seven runs on 12 hits.
Bri Lagroteria led off the game with a single and scored on a double by
Elizabeth Shire. Immaculata tied the game at one in the bottom of the second with a solo homerun.
Kristen Pagliaro hit a homerun with one out in the fifth to put the Knights back in the lead, 2-1.
The Mighty Macs opened the bottom of the sixth with five straight hits to take a 4-2 lead. Immaculata plated three more runs for a 7-2 advantage. The Knights put the lead off batter on base in the top of the seventh but could not get a rally going.
In game two, the Knights battled to a 12-7 defeat.
Morgan Fitzpatrick went 4-for-4 with three runs scored.
Janiece Robles started the game in the circle and went 3.2 innings. She allowed nine runs, eight earned, on 14 hits.
Ashley Mazzeo allowed three runs on four hits over 3.1 innings.
The Wolverines took a 3-0 lead before the Knights got on the board in the third inning when Lagroteria scored after a strikeout. In the top of the fourth, Wesley plated six runs to take a 9-1 lead.
The Knights answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. With two runners on,
Christina Ludovico singled to score Fitzpatrick. Neumann then loaded the based and Pagliaro knocked in
Kaylee Fiocca with a single. Rachel Alberton hit a sacrifice fly to score Ludovico for a 9-4 score.
Neumann added two more runs in the fifth.
Vanessa Bowen led off with a single and scored on a double by Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick came around to score on a single by
Ashley Leicht.
Wesley extended its lead again in the sixth with three runs. Neumann was able to get another run across in the bottom of the seventh but fell 12-7.
Neumann finishes its season 9-13 overall.