CLERMONT, Fla. – The Neumann University Softball team dropped two tough games on Monday afternoon in the third day of their annual Spring Break trip. They fell in the opener against Marian University by a final score of 5-4 before a 7-1 loss against Concordia University (Wisc.)
 
In the first game, the Sabres struck first with three runs in the second on a sacrifice fly, a steal of home, and an RBI grounder. The Knights struck back in the top of the fourth with a long two-out rally. Erin O'Shea singled, Gracie Jairdullo walked, and Cioni Simmons hit a bunt single to load the bases. Emily Ammon drew an RBI walk and did Kayla Naylor pulling Neumann within one. Dakota Marshall followed with a two-run single to left-center, giving them a 4-3 lead. Marian responded with a two-run double to right to regain the lead as the Knights were blanked in the final two innings.
 
Marshall led the Knights with a 2 for 3 game, with a double and two runs batted in. Syndey Wright also had two hits in four at-bats. Wright got the start in the circle and in five innings, she allowed four earned runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out three.
 
Against Concordia, Neumann fell behind in the first inning on a throwing error, a wild pitch, and an RBI grounder to make it 3-0 game. The Falcons added on in the second on three RBI singles and a fourth run coming in on a caught stealing. The Knights got their offense starting in the bottom of the inning as Marina Costello led off with a single, moved to second on a ground out, and on to third due to a wild pitch. Kayla Naylor drove her in with an RBI single to left, breaking the shutout. Neumann loaded the bases in the seventh but could not convert that into runs.
 
Costello held Concordia at bay over 5.2 innings of relief work. She did not allow a run on seven hits and a walk with fanning five.
 
After a day off on Tuesday, Neumann (2-4) will return to the field on Wednesday for a 10:00 AM game against Bethany Lutheran College, and a 12:15 PM game against Bluffton University.