ASTON, Pa. - For the third straight year, the Cabrini softball team fell in the Colonial States Athletic Conference title game. After scoring a 3-1 win over Marywood to earn a spot in the championship, the Blue and White fell 9-4 to Neumann for the second consecutive year.
The loss ends the Cavaliers' season at 24-16 and also closes the career of senior Kaitlyn Cooper.
Over the last four years, Cooper has recorded a career batting average of .369 with 181 hits, 119 RBI, 16 home runs, 129 runs scored, 407 assists and 274 putouts.
Cooper helped lead the Cavaliers to three straight CSAC title appearances and proved to be an integral part to Cabrini's recent success.
Marywood struck first in the top of the first inning, scoring a run on two hits but junior Lindsay Savar's RBI double in the bottom half plated sophomore Christine Ferraro and freshman Darian Caputo.
The Blue and White scored its last run in the third inning, as Ferraro, who reached on a bunt single, crossed home plate on Cooper's triple to left field.
The Pacers put the pressure on the Cavaliers in the top of the seventh, as a pair of walks and a bunt single loaded the bases.
Junior Amber Dietrich made an outstanding play in right field, as the junior traced down a fly ball and threw the tagging runner out at home plate. Sophomore Jess Giordano struck out the final Pacer to secure the victory and a spot in the title game.
Savar led the way with a pair of RBI, while Ferraro went 3-3 and scored twice.
Giordano improved to 13-5 in the circle, after allowing one run and six hits in seven innings of action.
The Knights earned their way into the title game with a 12-3 win over Cedar Crest.
The Blue and White opened the scoring early in the championship game, as Savar's single down the left field line scored Caputo.
The Knights answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom half to take the 2-1 lead.
After a scoreless second inning, the Cavaliers added three runs in the third. Cooper and Ferraro crossed home plate on Giordano's double to left field, while freshman Marissa Alpaugh's single down the left field line scored sophomore Brittany Smith.
The lead was short lived, as the Knights answered with three runs in the bottom half. A solo home run in the fifth gave Neumann a 6-4 lead.
Cabrini looked to mount a comeback in the sixth inning, as a trio of singles from junior Taylor Mack, Caputo and Ferraro loaded the bases. The Knights were able to stall the Cavaliers' offense, as a pair of strike outs and a ground out ended the rally.
In the bottom half, Neumann extended the lead to 9-4, after scoring three runs on three hits.
Dietrich managed to reach on a two out double in the seventh but a ground out ended the game.
For the second consecutive year and seventh time in program history, the Knights were crowned CSAC champions.
Giordano was called upon once again to pitch and tossed four solid innings, before junior Kiley Sharp and freshman Jenna Rodriguez took over.
Giordano allowed seven hits and four earned runs in the loss, while Sharp and Rodriguez combined for four hits and three earned runs.
Despite picking up the loss in the circle, Giordano impressed at the plate, as the sophomore tallied a pair of RBI.
Ferraro continued her outstanding day with another 3-3 performance from the batter's box, while also adding a run scored. Savar and Cooper each went 2-4 and added an RBI in the loss.
