ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University softball team split an Atlantic East Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon against Marywood University. The Pacers won game one 7-5 while the Knights took game two 5-2.
 
Prior to the game, the Knights honored this year's senior class: Emily Ammon, Cioni Simmons, Faith Weaver, Nicole Anderson, Tori Spinella, Ang Sannicandro and Marina Costello.
 
The first game went back and forth as the Pacers scored first with a run in the top of the third. The Knights responded with two runs in the home half. Spinella led off with a double. Rylie Norris hit a sac bunt to move Spinella to third. Spinella then scored in a single by Ammon. Ammon then stole second, the 100^th of her career. She scored on an RBI single by Ellie Zarnawski.
 
Marywood took the lead right back as it scored three runs in the fourth for a 4-2 advantage. In the fifth, Simmons walked, stole second, and scored on an RBI single by Zarnawski. Costello doubled in Zarnawski to tie the game at four.
 
The Pacers took advantage of some Knights miscues in the sixth and scored three unearned runs for a 7-4 lead. Neumann scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh but could not complete the comeback and fell 7-5 in game one.
 
Costello pitched the complete game, allowing seven runs, three earned, on seven hits and struck out four. She also added two hits and two RBI. Zarnawski had three hits, two RBI and scored a pair.
 
In game two, the Knights came out swinging and scored five runs in the first two innings. Ammon and Gracie Jairdullo drew back-to-back walks to open the bottom of the first. Ammon stole second, the 33^rd of the season, breaking her own record of 32 from last season. Zarnawski hit a sac bunt to move the runners over. Costello then doubled to score both runners.
 
In the second, Natalie Jairdullo and Spinella hit back-to-back singles, then both stole bases. Simmons walked to load the bases. Ammon hit a sacrifice fly and G. Jairdullo hit an RBI groundout for a 4-0 lead. Zarnawski then hit and RBI single for a 5-0 game after two innings.
 
The Pacers broke up the shutout with two runs in the top of the sixth.
 
Rebecca DiLeo started the game in the circle and went 7.0 innings for the win. She allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits while striking out four.
 
Neumann (16-18, 5-5 Atlantic East) heads into the final week of the regular season and will host Penn State Brandywine for a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday beginning at 3:00 PM.