ST. DAVID'S, Pa. – The Neumann University Softball team was handed two tight losses on Wednesday afternoon as they fell by scores of 1-0 and 4-2 against Eastern University in a non-conference doubleheader.
The Eagles got the opening game going in the bottom of the first when they scored on an RBI single. Neuman's best threat came in the sixth when, with one out, they had singles from
Alyssa Celi and
Emily Ammon, but they could not bring them home. In the bottom of the sixth, with runners at first and second and two away,
Cioni Simmons fielded what could have been a run scoring single, but she fired a missile to the plate to nab the base-runner, keeping it a one-run deficit.
Olivia Ammon was sharp in the circle, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing the one earned run on four hits and four walks on 92 pitches.
Ang Sannicandro got the last two outs, allowing one hit and striking out one.
The nightcap started off eerily similar to game one as Eastern got on the board in the first inning, scoring a run via an error. It took until the fifth inning, but the Eagles doubled the lead on a solo home run. They would not stop there as they picked up two more runs in the inning on an RBI grounder and an RBI single, making it 4-0.
The Knights did their best to claw back into the game in the final inning when
Alyssa Celi led off with a triple to right-center. After two outs,
Jenna Calchi walked and E. Ammon drove in the day's first Neumann run on an RBI single to right. Two consecutive wild pitches later, pinch-runner,
Anaya Torres came in to score, but the rally would end there.
Celi finished 2 for 3 with a triple and a run scored.
Ashlynne Scardino suffered the loss in the circle as she allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits in 4.1 innings.
Neumann(4-8) will return to action on Saturday when they begin Atlantic East Conference play against Centenary University. The doubleheader in northern New Jersey will begin at 12:00 PM.
