Saints Win Season-Opener Over Neumann, 9-2

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Emmanuel College Softball (1-0) got their season started off on the right foot Sunday afternoon with a 9-2 victory over the Neumann University Knights (2-2) at THE Spring Games. The win marked the program's first season-opener triumph since they defeated Lesley University, 6-4, to begin the 2019-20 season. The win also marked first-year Head Coach Brenna Morrissey's first career victory.

A base knock from Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) got the Saints on the board early with an RBI single to score leadoff hitter Amanda Penney (Warwick, R.I.) in the bottom of the first. The Saints added two more RBI singles in the inning thanks to Emma Crisafulli (Loudonville, N.Y.) and Alexis Martineau (Merrimack, N.H.), taking a 3-0 advantage into the second inning. Martineau's single marked the first hit of her collegiate career.

Back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the second put the Saints offense back in business and looking to extend their early lead. Sophomore Christyna Winstead (Uncasville, Conn.) plated the Saints' fourth run of the matchup through a double steal with Penney taking second base on the play. A groundout from Conti later in the inning gave Emmanuel a 5-0 lead after two innings.

A leadoff double for Neumann's Alexis Palombi (Sicklerville, N.J.) gave the Knights a chance to cut into the Saints' lead. Kristen Pagliaro (Freehold, N.J.) was able to score Palombi through a sacrifice fly to earn the Knights' first run of the contest. Taylor Portzline (Marysville, Pa.) added another run for the Knights through an RBI single to place Neumann within three.

Following the two-run third, the Knights were unable to reach base for the final three innings. Sophomore Mackenzie Briggs (West Warwick, R.I.) was able to silence the Neumann offense for the remainder of the matchup to earn the win. Emmanuel tacked on an insurance run in the fourth and three more in fifth before the game was called due to inclement weather prior to the bottom of the sixth. The game was ultimately called to secure a season-opening 9-2 victory for the Saints.

Briggs allowed just five hits and two earned runs over six innings on the day. Conti led the Saints at the plate with four RBIs and two hits. Crisafulli added two RBIs while reaching base three times in the win. Pagliaro and Portzline contributed a hit and an RBI apiece in the loss for the Knights.

Due to the inclement weather, the Saints second matchup of the day scheduled against Concordia-Chicago was postponed. The two sides will look to make-up the game in Florida this week should scheduling allow.

Neumann will travel to Sleepy Hollow Field in Leesburg on Monday (3/4) for a doubleheader with Concordia and Westminster scheduled for 10:15 A.M. and 3:15 P.M. The Saints will continue their trip in Florida with a doubleheader in Clermont on Monday (3/4) afternoon against Bluffton (4:00 P.M.) and Saint Mary's of Minnesota (6:15 P.M.) at the Legends Way Ballfields.