ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University Softball team took both ends of a doubleheader against Penn State Abington, 5-4 and 5-0, in non-conference play on Friday afternoon.
The Nittany Lions took an early lead on runs scored on two wild pitches and an RBI groundout. In the fifth, an RBI single up the middle made it a 4-0 lead for Penn State Abington. With one out in the sixth,
Taylor Portzline and
Elizabeth Shire singled. Two batters later, Portzline scored on an error.
Maddie Tice followed with a single, driving in two runs, pulling Neumann within one.
With one out in the seventh,
Ashley Leicht doubled down the right field line, putting the tying run in scoring position, and the winning run at the plate in the person of
Kristen Pagliaro.
Cioni Simmons came in to pinch run and Pagliaro took a 1-1 pitch to left field. The fielder dove for it and missed, and both Simmons and Pagliaro came in to score on a walk-off inside-the-park home run.
Shire led the offense going 3 for 3 with two stolen bases, and a run scored. Pagliaro was 2 for 4 with the home run, two RBI, and a run scored.
Olivia Ammon earned the win in relief to improve to 3-3. She struck out two in two innings of work, allowed just one hit.
Game two started off with
Christina Ludovico walked and moved to second on a grounder. After Ludovico reached third on a wild pitch, she scored when Portzline singled. The game stayed 1-0 in favor of the Knights until the sixth inning.
Bri Reim led off with a walk then stole second right before Pagliaro walked. After Portzline moved both runners up on a sacrifice bunt, Shire drove in two with a double. Tice and
Olivia Ammon walked, and two more runs scored on a throwing error, giving Neumann a five run advantage.
Pitcher
Ashlynne Scardino hurled a complete game shutout to improve to 2-3 on the season. She went all seven innings, giving up three hits and striking out three, facing three batters over the minimum.
Neumann (5-10) will be back in action on Tuesday when they host Stockton University in another non-conference doubleheader. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 3pm.
