CHESTER, Pa. – The Neumann University Softball team took on their cross-county rivals, the Widener University Pride, falling in both ends of a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday. The final scores were 9-7 and 7-6.
Game one began with a scoreless first before Neumann rattled off a big second inning.
Kaylee Fiocca led off with a single to center field. Two batters later,
Cecelia Mick singled, and
Bri Reim walked to load the bases.
Christina Ludovico drove in the game's first run on a sacrifice fly to plate Fiocca. Mick and Reim then scored on a throwing error for a 3-0 lead.
Kristen Pagliaro would also reach on an error and then
Taylor Portzline drove in two with a single into centerfield.
Elizabeth Shire closed out the offense in the inning with a two-run blast, her first of the season, giving the Knights a seven-run advantage.
In the fourth, the Pride started to chip away at the Neumann lead. It was a run scoring on an error then a two-run double that pulled Widener within four. The next inning proved to be the turning point of the game as the Pride tied the game on a two-run and a two-run homer. They took the lead using an RBI double and RBI single.
Shire was 2 for 4 with a home run, two runs batted in, and a run scored. Portline was also 2 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored.
Ashlynne Scardino was dealt the loss in the circle. She falls to 1-3.
Game two started with similar promise for Neumann when Reim led off with a walk and moved to second on a passed ball. After advancing to third on a grounder, she scored when Pagliaro grounded out. Widener tied the game in the bottom of the inning with RBI infield single. Neumann took the lead back in the next inning using a Reim single to bring home
Alyssa Celi, making it a 2-1 game.
Portzline doubled the Knights advantage on a sacrifice fly in the top of the third. In the fifth, Neumann pulled ahead by five using a Shire RBI single and a two-run homer from
Ashley Leicht, her first of the campaign. Much like game one, Widener put together a comeback.
In the bottom of the fifth, it was an RBI single and a three-run home run to pull within one. In the seventh, the tied the game on a solo shot and then walked-off with the win on a game-winning RBI single to centerfield.
Leicht paced the attack with a 2 for 4 game with a homer, 2 RBI, and a run scored.
Emily DuPont was 2 for 2 with a walk.
Olivia Ammon suffered the loss in relief to drop to 2-3.
Neumann (3-9) will be back in action tomorrow afternoon as they return home to take on Penn State- Abington in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch for game one is at 3pm.
