ARLINGTON, Va. – The Neumann University softball team dropped its first two contests of the 2024 Atlantic East Conference Pod B play on Friday afternoon. The Knights fell to host Marymount 11-3 in the first game, and the Marywood 9-1 in game two, both going five innings.
 
In the first game, the Knights led off with two straight singles, but could not get either runner around to score. The Saints then scored two runs in the first and two in the second for an early 4-0 lead.
 
To open the third inning, Cioni Simmons led off with a single and stole second. Alyssa Celi knocked in Simmons with a sacrifice fly to put the Knights on the board. Kristen Pagliaro singled and Elizabeth Shire stepped up the to plate to hit Neumann's first homerun of the season for a 4-3 score.
 
Marymount's bats came alive in the fourth and plated seven runs for an 11-3 lead. Neumann put one runner on base in the top of the fifth but could not score a run.
 
Olivia Ammon started the game in the circle and went 1.2 innings. Daphne Santos pitched 1.2 innings in relief. Ang Sannicandro picked up the final two outs.
 
The Knights scored first in game two against the Pacers. Shire doubled and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Tori Spinella. Marywood answered quickly with two runs in the bottom of the second. The Pacers added six runs in the third for an 8-1 lead. Marywood hit a solo homerun to lead off the fourth for a 9-1 score.
 
Neumann had two singles in the top of the fifth but could not get another run across the plate. Sydney Wright started the game and went 2.1 innings. Courtney McKenna and Ashlynne Scardino rounded out the game in the circle.
 
Neumann finishes its season 16-26.