LEESBURG, Fla. – The Neumann University Softball team continued their 2024 Spring Break trip by defeating Concordia College, 3-2, before falling to Westminster College by a final score of 9-1.
After a scoreless first inning of the first game against Concordia,
Jenna Calchi got her first collegiate hit with one out in the second.
Cecelia Mick followed with a single of her own. After a successful
Alexis Palombi moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt,
Bri Reim plated two with a single up the middle, giving the Knights the lead. Concordia came back in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single, cutting the Neumann lead in half at 2-1.
In the top of the third, Neumann came right back and extended the lead.
Kristen Pagliaro led off by getting hit by a pitch then moved to second on a
Taylor Portzline sacrifice bunt. After
Olivia Ammon singled on a bunt, moving Pagliaro to third, Calchi reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Pagliaro, re-establishing the two-run advantage.
Neumann held the Cobbers at bay until the bottom of the sixth when they picked up a run on an RBI single, pulling them within a run. In the seventh, Concordia was able to get the tying run on base, but with two outs,
Cioni Simmons made a spectacular diving catch to seal the win.
Mick finished the game 2 for 3 with a run scored. Reim was 2 for 4 with a stolen based and two runs batted in. Pagliaro was 2 for 3 with a hit by pitch, a steal, and a run scored.
Olivia Ammon earned the complete game victory as she allowed two runs on nine hits, and she struck out seven. She improves to 2-0 on the season.
The Knights got off to a solid start in the game against Westminster as
Emily Ammon walked, Reim singled, and Pagliaro singled, loading the bases with nobody out.
Alyssa Celi grounded out to drive in E. Ammon, giving them an early lead, but that is all they would get.
Westminster tied the game in the third on an RBI double and then exploded for eight runs in the fourth to take control. The Titans picked up an RBI double, an RBI fielder's choice, a two-run double, a three more RBI hits, giving them an eight run advantage.
Ashlynne Scardino got the start and battled through 3.1 innings to fall to 1-1.
Neumann(3-3) will take Tuesday off and regroup for Wednesday's action against Hiram College at 12:30 PM, and Wentworth Institute of Technology at 3:15 PM.
