Softball Seniors Lead Marywood to Key Split with Neumann
Senior Caitlin Hadzimichalis went 2-3 with a double and two RBI in the nightcap as Marywood split with Neumann Saturday

Softball Seniors Lead Marywood to Key Split with Neumann

- 3/28/2009 4:36:34 PM

GAME 1 BOX SCORE

GAME 2 BOX SCORE

Scranton, PA – Marywood University rebounded from a tough opening game loss to conference leader Neumann College to hand the Knights their first CSAC loss of the year in the nightcap as Marywood earned a key split with Neumann Saturday afternoon in Scranton. The Pacers took the nightcap 3-1 after falling 4-1 to the Knights in the opener. Marywood moves to 14-6 overall and 9-3 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference while Neumann stands at 16-8, 9-1 CSAC.

Marywood grabbed a 1-0 lead in the nightcap on an RBI double from Caitlin Hadzimichalis (Harmony, NJ) in the bottom of the third. Hadzimichalis' extra base hit scored Janessa Bednash (Mayfield, PA) all the way from first. In the top half of the fourth, Neumann threatened and had runners on second and third but Mallory Gable (Hughestown, PA) got one of her eight strikeouts to end the inning.

Erika Cook (Wyalusing, PA) doubled the Marywood lead in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out triple to right –center. Cook's triple scored Caitlin Ely from third as Marywood went up 2-0. Ely (Montrose, PA), who pinch ran after Kim Flanagan's inning-opening infield single, advanced to second on a Lauren Nealon (Scranton, PA) sacrifice bunt and to third on a routine groundout to short. Hadzimichalis then extended Marywood's lead to 3-0 with a single down the left field line off Neumann relief pitcher Brittany Campbell.

The Knights would get one back in the top of the sixth on a RBI double to left by junior first-baseman Jennifer Goslin. Goslin's double, which scored Sebasto from second, was her second of the year. After a walk to put runners on first and second with no out, Gable would settle down and get a strikeout, foul-fly pop-out and groundout to short to end the inning.

Gable, now 6-0 on the year for the Pacers, went the distance and allowed just five hits on the day. Hadzimichalis was 2-3 at the plate with a double and pair of RBI while Cook was 1-3 with a RBI triple.

Neumann starter Rachel Purpuro took the loss and fell to 3-2 after 4.2 innings of work. Purpuro allowed three runs on five hits while striking out two. Campbell pitched the final 1.1 innings, striking out two while allowing two hits. Sebasto was 2-3 while Goslin was 2-3 with a double and RBI.

In the opening game, Neumann got on the board in the fourth after Caitlin Hanrahan opened with a tripled to right center and advanced home on a sacrifice bunt by Lauren Castiello. The Knights would miss a chance to extend their lead in the top of the sixth, stranding runners on second and third, and Marywood's Kim Lope (Clifton, NJ) would make them pay in the bottom half of the inning with her first collegiate homerun to tie the game at 1-1.

Neumann's Laura Keeley opened the top of the seventh with a pinch-hit double and Gabrielle Lulias would re-enter and score on a fielding error that sent batter Lauren Strack all the way to third as the Knights reclaimed a 2-1 lead. Sebasto would help her own cause with a single to left center to extend Neumann's lead to 3-1, and a fielder's choice would make it 4-1 in favor of the visitors. From there, Sebasto would close the door on Marywood's bats with a scoreless seventh get her ninth win of the year.

Colleen Regan (Endwell, NY) went 2-3 for the Pacers while Lope was 1-3 with the lone run and RBI. Kaitlyn Brennan (Taylor, PA) took the loss on the mound to slip to 4-1 on the year. Brennan went all seven innings, striking out one while allowing two earned runs on seven hits.

Sebasto (9-2) would strike out 12 Pacers on the day and allow just four hits in a stellar effort for the conference-leading Knights. The senior All-Conference selection would help her own cause with a 2-4 day at the plate.

Marywood returns to action Wednesday with a non-conference doubleheader against Cazenovia College at 3:00 pm.
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