GLENSIDE, Pa. – The Neumann University softball team closed out the regular season portion of its schedule on Tuesday night, falling in two games at Arcadia University in non-conference action by scores of 5-1 and 8-3.

In the opening contest of the evening, Ashley Mazzeo got the start in the circle for the Knights, going 3.1 innings and giving up four earned runs. Emily DuPont came on in relief for the final 2.2 innings, allowing just one run on three hits.

After squandering a lead-off single from Emily Reid in the top half of the first inning, Neumann found itself down quickly in the bottom half of the frame. A two-out single from Arcadia with a runner in scoring position gave the hosts a 1-0 lead after one.

Neumann's bats stayed quiet until the third, when the Knights loaded the bases with nobody out in the inning.  Kristen Pagliaro led off the inning with a single before Bri Reim walked and Reid was hit by a pitch. The visitors had a golden opportunity to get themselves on the board, but three consecutive outs from the heart of their order followed. Christina Ludovico worked a full-count before striking out swinging, followed by a pop-out to first base from Taylor Portzline and a strikeout looking from Maddie Tice. Arcadia would make Neumann pay for its lack of timely hitting with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning to make it 3-0 to the hosts after three.

The host Knights continued to roll as the game moved on, scoring again in the fourth to make it 4-0. Neumann earned its lone run in the top of the fifth, as Ludovico doubled home Reid to get the visitors on the board at 4-1. That would be the last positive for Neumann in game one though, as Arcadia tacked on a fifth run in the sixth inning, then kept the visiting bats at bay to clinch the 5-1 victory.

Game two would see Courtney McKenna throw 3.1 innings, with Olivia Ammon coming in for the final 2.2 innings. Neither of those pitchers could slow down the tough Arcadia lineup though, as they combined to allow eight earned runs on 12 hits.

Things started just like game one, as Arcadia took an early lead thanks to three straight hits to open the contest. The hosts scored twice in the inning, then tacked on three more tallies in the fourth to bring the score to 5-0 heading to the fifth.

Neumann's bats stayed quiet for most of the matchup, recording only one hit over the first four innings to remain scoreless. The visitors' bats finally woke up in the fifth, as they scored twice in the inning thanks to a hit and a few errors from Arcadia. The visiting Knights could not get a shut-down inning though after scoring for the first time, as they conceded a run in the bottom half of the inning to bring the score to 6-2 after the fifth.

Neumann got its first two runners on base in the sixth, but much like game one, the team could not capitalize. Three straight outs followed as the visitors remained down by four. Arcadia then basically sealed the game with two more tallies in the bottom half of the inning.

Neumann did show some fight in the final frame, again loading the basis and this time cashing in. Elizabeth Shire was hit by a pitch with the bases juiced to get the team just slightly closer at 8-3. The bases stayed loaded, but the Neumann hitters could not take advantage as the game finished 8-3 in favor of the hosts.

Neumann (13-25) will look to bounce back this weekend when the team heads to the Atlantic East Conference playoffs. The Knights will open postseason play on Friday, April 29^th with a game versus Centenary University at 2:00 PM. The team will then take on pod host Marywood University at 4:00 PM.