View game 1 box score vs. Centenary
View game 2 box score vs. Neumann
ASTON, Pa. – The No. 3 seed Cabrini softball team has advanced to day two of the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Tournament following a two-game split in the semifinal round on Friday afternoon at Neumann University. The Cavaliers posted a 3-2 win versus No. 2 seed Centenary College before suffering a 3-1 setback against the host and top-seeded Knights.
Senior P Liz Zimmer earned the victory versus the Cyclones, allowing just four hits and striking out two for her 13th win of the season. The victory also stands as the 25th overall of her career at Cabrini.
Zimmer was in control throughout until surrendering two unearned tallies in the bottom of the sixth inning. Leading by just one run, she retired the Centenary side in order in the seventh.
Senior 2B Cheri Johns and sophomore SS Sammy Thompson each notched two hits for the Blue & White in the victory. Thompson, sophomore 3B Ryan McDonough and freshman CF Casey O'Connell each scored one run.
The Cavaliers got on the scoreboard with one run in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single from sophomore 1B Angela Shookster. McDonough scored from third on the play after reaching base via a fielder's choice earlier in the inning.
Cabrini pushed its lead to 3-0 with two more runs in the third. Johns drove in one run with a bases loaded single to centerfield. Senior DP Kerri MacNeal added the inning's second tally with a groundout RBI.
Zimmer struck out sophomore 3B Danielle Dundas with one runner aboard to escape trouble in the sixth inning. The Cavaliers committed two errors in the frame.
Cabrini jumped out to a 1-0 lead versus Neumann in the second game. Junior pinch runner Leslie Farrell scored the Cavaliers' lone run in the fourth on a bases loaded walk. Junior C Chrissy Squillace was credited with the RBI.
However, the Knights rallied in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three runs on three hits and never looking back. Freshman C Crystal Perlman put Neumann ahead for good with an RBI groundout to second base.
Sophomore P Rachel Purpuro started game two for the Knights, but was chased after just 3.1 innings of work. Junior P Brittany Campbell came on in relief to earn the victory, pitching 3.2 innings and yielding just one hit.
Zimmer suffered the loss in game two for the Blue & White, allowing six hits and three earned runs in her team-leading 15th complete game of the season.
Each with one loss, Cabrini (24-17) again meets Centenary tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. with its season on the line. Neumann, the lone unbeaten team remaining in the tournament, awaits the winner of the Cabrini and Centenary game at 12 p.m.
