ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University softball team split an Atlantic East Conference doubleheader with Marymount University on Thursday afternoon. The Knights took game one 2-1 in eight innings before the Saints held on 10-9 in game two.
Runs were hard to come by in the first game as the teams remained scoreless until the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth,
Emily Ammon doubled and moved to second on a bunt single by
Cioni Simmons. Ammon scored on a sacrifice bunt by
Alexis Palombi for a 1-0 lead.
The Saints tied the game with two outs in the seventh. In the bottom of the eighth, Ammon reached again with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Simmons. The junior then scored on a Saints passed ball to give the Knights the 2-1 walk-off win.
Ammon was 3-for-3 in the game, scored both runs and stole two bases.
Marina Costello pitched a complete game in the circle and allowed one unearned run on seven hits and struck out eight.
The bats were more active in game two as the Saints put two runs on the board in the top of the first. The Knights answered with four runs in the bottom of the first. Ammon continued her hot streak of the day with a single, stole second and advanced to third in a wild pitch. Palombi singled in Ammon. After two walks to load the bases,
Jenna Calchi hit an RBI single to tie the game at two.
Bri Reim got an RBI on a fielders choice and
Tori Spinella hit an SBI single for a 4-2 score.
Ammon led off the second getting on base after being hit by a pitch. She scored on a sacrifice fly by Palombi. Marymount plated seven runs in the top of the third for a 9-5 game.
Neumann added two runs in the fifth as Palombi knocked in Ammon again and Simmons scored on an error. Spinella knocked in
Nicole Anderson in the sixth to pull within two, 10-8. In the bottom of the seventh, Palombi reached with two outs after being hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Costello. Costello was then stranded at second as the tying run.
Ammon picked up two more hits and stole four bases and scored three runs. With the juniors steals today, she tied the single season record with 24. Palombi knocked in three and scored two. Anderson drew four walks.
Olivia Ammon started the game in the circle and went 2+ innings.
Sydney Wright went 5.0 innings in relief.
Neumann (7-29, 4-4 Atlantic East) heads to Widener next Thursday to wrap up non-conference action. The first game is slated to begin at 4:00 PM.
