ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – The Neumann University Softball team headed out to Lancaster County for a non-conference doubleheader against Elizabethtown College on Thursday afternoon. The Knights took game one, 4-3, before falling in the finale, 6-2.
The Blue Jays started off firing on all cylinders using an RBI single and a two-run double to gain a first inning 3-0 lead. After a scoreless second,
Ashley Leicht led off the third with a walk.
Alyssa Celi and
Emily Ammon followed with base hits to load the bases.
Kristen Pagliaro would then drive in the Knight's first two-run with a single to left-center.
Taylor Portzline reloaded the bases with a single then
Elizabeth Shire and
Ang Sannicandro each drew walks to take the lead for good.
E. Ammon and Pagliaro each went 2 for 4 to lead the offense. Pagliaro added a double, two runs batted in, and a run scored. Celi was 2 for 3 with a run scored as well. Sannicandro, in addition to her RBI walk, picked up the win in a complete game effort. In her seven innings, she allowed three runs on nine hits and a walk, while fanning four. She improves her record to 2-5.
Game two started a bit slower as the first two innings went without incident. In the third, Elizabethtown took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single. E. Ammon led off the fourth a single into right field, stole second, and moved to third when
Cioni Simmons sacrificed. Pagliaro continued her hot hitting with an RBI double to left field, plating Ammon to tie the game.
In the fourth, Shire started with a walk and
Maddie Tice singled. Both moved up a base on
Nicole Anderson's sacrifice bunt. Two batters later,
Cecelia Mick gave the Knights the lead when her single down the left field line drove in Shire. Sadly, for Neumann, the Blue Jays came right back with two runs in the bottom of the frame on an RBI triple and RBI single. They extended in the sixth with a sacrifice fly and a two-run double.
Pagliaro and Mick each had 2 for 3 games with Pagliaro getting her second double of the day. She added a stolen base and an RBI. Mick drove in a run as well. E. Ammon went 2 for 4 with a steal and a run scored.
Ashley Mazzeo suffered the loss in the circle to drop to 0-2 on the season.
Neumann (11-20, 4-4 Atlantic East) will return to action on Saturday for their last home games of the regular season as they host their Atlantic East Conference rivals, the Marymount University Saints. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 12:00 PM.
