WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Neumann University softball team finished off their season-opening Spring Break jaunt with two wins on Thursday. They defeated University of Dubuque, 5-3, before taking care of Houghton University, 9-1 in five innings.
The Knights' first game of the day started off strong when
Emily Ammon lifted a double to the left-centerfield gap to start off the game. Two batters later,
Kristen Pagliaro drove her home with an RBI single for a 1-0 lead after one. In the fourth,
Maddie Tice led off by reaching on an error.
Nicole Anderson followed with a walk then
Bri Reim sacrificed to put runners at second and third.
Alyssa Celi brought in Tice on a sacrifice fly to center and
Emily Ammon singled to score Anderson, and the Knights took a three-run lead.
The Neumann offense wasn't done yet as Pagliaro led off the fifth with a walk and a steal of second. Two batters later,
Elizabeth Shire singled to drive in Pagliaro. Tice followed with an RBI single of her own, bringing home shire for a 5-0 advantage. Dubuque chipped away at the lead with an RBI groundout in the sixth. In the seventh, the Spartans added an RBI single and a run-scoring fielder's choice, but the Knights hung on for the win.
Ashlynne Scardino nabbed the complete game win to improve her record to 1-2. In her seven innings, she allowed three runs, two earned, on 12 hits, three walks, and a hit-by-pitch, while striking out three.
Emily Ammon led the offense with a 2 for 3 performance, with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.
In the finale, it was Houghton that got on the board first with an RBI single in the second inning. In the bottom of the third, the Neumann offense exploded as they sent 12 batters to the plate in a nine-run frame. With one out,
Cioni Simmons walked and Pagliaro singled.
Taylor Portzline tied the game up on an RBI single and after a Shire walk,
Faith Weaver gave the Knights the lead on an RBI single, loading the bases.
Kat Collins broke the game open with a bases-clearing double for a 5-1 lead.
Olivia Ammon and
Cecelia Mick followed with back-to-back base hits then
Christina Ludovico drove in a run on a fielder's choice. Simmons extended the lead when she plated
Olivia Ammon with a single. After a Pagliaro walk, Portzline brought in both Simmons and Ludovico to finish off the biggest offensive inning of the season.
Olivia Ammon picked up the complete game win to improve to 2-1 on the year. She hurled five innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits and a walk, striking out four. Simmons, Pagliaro, and Portzline each had two hit games with Portzline driving in three runs. Collins also had a three RBI game, going 1 for 3 with a double and a run scored.
Neumann (3-7) will be back in action on Wednesday afternoon as they take on Eastern University. First pitch for the home-opener at Bruder Field in scheduled for 3pm.
