View box score vs. Centenary
View box score vs. Neumann
ASTON, Pa. – The Cabrini softball team's hopes of winning its first Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) title since the 2004 season came to an end Saturday afternoon in a 6-5 extra-inning loss against top-seeded Neumann University. The Cavaliers advanced to the championship tilt following a 4-2 win against Centenary College earlier in the day.
Cabrini twice held one-run leads in the later innings against the Knights, but could not hold off the hosts in the bottom of the eighth. Freshman LF Crystal Perlman's one-out base-hit down the leftfield line plated the tying and winning tallies.
The Cavaliers rallied from a 3-1 deficit and took a 4-3 advantage into the bottom of the sixth inning. The Blue & White scored three runs in the sixth on three extra base-hits.
The Knights evened the count 4-4 in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single from junior CF Deanna Christy. Cabrini regained a 5-4 edge in the top of the eighth with run-scoring single from senior DP Kerri MacNeal.
Each of Neumann's first three batters reached base in the bottom of the eighth before freshman P Marcelle Crist retired freshman C Jackie Herrington on a pop-out. Perlman's game-winning hit scored senior Gabrielle Lulias and junior Kim Kirkpatrick.
Crist went the distance for the Cavaliers in the loss, notching the 11th complete game of her rookie campaign. She surrendered 14 hits and five earned runs against the Knights.
Cabrini led 4-0 through three-and-a-half innings against Centenary. Freshman CF Casey O'Connell went 3-for-4 at the plate versus the Cyclones and drove in one run. O'Connell, senior 2B Cheri Johns, senior RF Mary Kate Smith and senior P Liz Zimmer each scored one run in the win.
The Cavaliers plated two runs in the second inning. Junior C Chrissy Squillace drove in one run with a double before Zimmer crossed home plate on a throwing error.
Cabrini added one run in the third on a wild pitch and one run in the fourth inning on an RBI triple from O'Connell. Centenary scored two runs in its final at-bat.
Zimmer lasted 6.0 innings and struck out two batter en route to her team-best 14th win of the season. Freshman P Missy Miller came on in relief to pitch the final inning and allowed two earned runs.
Cabrini (25-17) has won 25 games in a single season for the first time since the 2004 campaign.
