ROSEMONT, Pa. – The Neumann University Softball team closed out the regular season in style with an Atlantic East Conference doubleheader sweep of Cabrini University on Saturday afternoon by scores of 5-0 and 11-3 in six innings.
Cioni Simmons led off game one of the twin-bill with a walked and stole second.
Kristen Pagliaro drove her in with a single to left for an early 1-0 lead. In the fifth,
Tori Spinella led off with a single up the middle. Two batters later,
Emily Ammon hit a base hit to right, moving Spinella to third. After another Simmons walked loaded the bases,
Taylor Portzline hit a sacrifice fly to center to double the Knights' lead.
Neumann added much desired insurance in the sixth as Pagliaro doubled to left to start the frame.
Elizabeth Shire singled to the pitcher to move Pagliaro to third, then Shire stole second. One out later, Spinella walked and
Bri Reim drove in two with a single to center. E. Ammon drove in Spinella with a base hit to push the lead to five.
Pagliaro was 2 for 3 with a double, a walk, a run-batted-in, and a run scored. E. Ammon was also 2 for 3 with an RBI. Shire finished game one, 2 for 4 with a stolen base and a run scored.
Olivia Ammon was masterful in her 11
th complete game and third shutout. In her seven innings in the circle, she allowed just three hits with no walks while striking out two.
In game two, the first inning went scoreless before Cabrini put up three runs in the second on a bases-loaded walk, and two run scoring fielder's choices. Neumann responded with a vengeance in the top of the third. E. Ammon led off by reaching on an error. She immediately stole second and moved to third on a Simmons single. Simmons went to second on a steal and Portzline pushed home E. Ammon with a single.
Alyssa Celi followed with an RBI single and Shire tied the game with her own RBI single to center. After Shire stole second,
Sydney Wright gave the Knights the lead with a base hit to left-center field. Spinella drove in another run on a groundout and Reim doubled down the right field line to drive in Wright for a 6-3 lead.
Neumann wasn't done there as they Simmons continued her hot hitting with an infield hit to lead off the fourth. Two batters later, Celi doubled to left, moving Simmons to third. After a Pagliaro walk, Shire knocked in Simmons with a sacrifice fly and Wright drove in two with a single into left.
In the fifth, Reim led off with a double and moved to third on a fly out. Portzline drove her in to make it 10-3. The Knights added a final blow in the sixth when Shire doubled to left, Wright singled to right-center and E. Ammon drove in Shire on a groundout.
Wright was a perfect 4 for 4 to lead the Knights, adding three RBI and a run. Celi was 3 or 4 with a double, an RBI, and two runs, while Simmons was 3 for 5 with a steal and two runs scored. Wright also starred in the circle with a complete game win. Over six innings she gave up three runs, one earned, on seven hits and three walks.
Neumann (16-24, 4-8 Atlantic East) will be part of pod B next weekend in the postseason. The Knights will head to Marymount and will be joined by Marywood. Neumann and Marymount will face-off at noon on Friday, followed by the Knights and the Pacers at 2:00 PM in the double-elimination tournament.
