Knights Have Season End In Pitcher’s Duel

UNION, N.J. – The Mount Saint Mary College Softball team saw the 2017 season come to a close with a tight 2-1 loss to Neumann at the Union Regional hosted by Kean. Junior Cindy Connoly finished with two hits and recorded eight strikeouts in the circle for the Knights.

Mount Saint Mary got off to a good start on Sunday, matching its hit total against Christopher Newport in the first inning against Neumann. Amanda Almodovar and Connoly gave the Mount runners on the corners with singles and Bridget Bennett drove in the team’s lone run of the game with a two-out single up the middle to give the Mount an early 1-0 lead.

Following the Bennett run scoring single, Neumann starter Haley Broomell retired the next 13 hitters she faced, retiring the side in order in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings. She struck out three over the stretch and allowed just one ball out of the infield.

Neumann jumped in front for good in the game with a two-out rally in the third inning. Following a two-out walk to Kara Grogan, Becky Guinto drove a two-run home run out to left field to close out the scoring in the game. Neumann would put runners on second and third with one out in the fourth, but could not extend the lead.

Mount Saint Mary put together one last rally in its final at-bat when it put runners on the corners with no one out and loaded the bases with one out. Neumann reliever Jen Sieminski got a come backer that cut down a runner at home and a groundout to end the game.

Connoly and Bennett each finished the game with two hits, with Almodovar going 1-for-3 with the team’s only run of the regional. Nicolette Moustouka worked a walk and Bennett drove in the team’s lone run.

Connoly fell to 13-9 on the season in her 22nd complete game of the season. She allowed two runs on five hits and struck out eight. She finishes the 2017 season with a 1.70 earned run average in 152 innings, striking out 190 against only 16 walks. Broomell picked up the win in 5.0 innings of work, with Sieminski recording the save with 2.0 scoreless innings.

Mount Saint Mary closes the season with a single season record 27 wins and rounds out the year at 27-14 overall.