IMMACULATA, Pa.- Following an exciting split with Neumann on the road on Friday evening, the Immaculata softball team returned home on Saturday afternoon for a doubleheader against the rival Knights. Immaculata captured game one by a final of 11-3 in five innings before dropping game two by a final of 9-3 to split the series with the Knights.

Immaculata opened the scoring early as the Macs scored their first runs of the contest in the opening frame as Keani Hindle belted her fifth home run in her last six games- a two-run shot, which also plated Riece Onorato who had reached via a single earlier in the inning to give the Macs an early 2-0 lead heading to the second.

After a scoreless second inning, Neumann responded with a three-run top of the third to erase the early deficit and take a 3-2 lead. Immaculata wasted little time in answering back as the Macs tied the game with an RBI double from Cat Knoll to plate Sara Rode who had lined a single into center to start the inning. Immaculata would reclaim the lead moments later as Paige Gerst deposited a single into left field to score Knoll and give the Macs a 4-3 lead. This lead would grow moments later when Laurna Heathcott dropped a double down the right field line to plate Elena Anglani and give Immaculata 5-3 lead. Jessica Oldham followed this up with a two-run home run to right center to give the Macs a 7-3 lead and close the book on Neumann starter Jess Sarni. Following this, Neumann was able to escape the inning without further damage to send the game to the fourth with the Macs out in front 7-3.

In the home half of the fifth, Immaculata added four more runs as Alyssa Daly drove home three with a bases-clearing double before scoring on an RBI single from Sara Rode, which gave the Macs an 11-3 lead and end the first game of the twinbill.

Sarah Guido got the start for Immaculata tossing five innings scattering just three runs on three hits while striking out a pair of earn her second victory as many days. For Neumann, Sarni took the loss lasting just 2.2 innings surrendering seven runs on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout. Janiece Robles entered in relief of Sarni tossing the final 2.1 surrendering four runs on three hits in the setback.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Neumann jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first before Immaculata answered back with a run of its own in the home half as Gerst laced an RBI single to plate Onorato and make the score 3-1 heading to the second.

In the second inning, Neumann scored four more runs to take a 7-1 lead into the bottom of the second.

Neumann added another run in the top of the fourth but a great throw from sophomore catcher to cut down a Knight's runner attempting to steal second limited the damage and sent the game to the home half of the fourth with Immaculata trailing 8-1.

In the home half of the fourth, Immaculata loaded the bases and got one back on an RBI single from Rode to score Laurna Heathcott and trim the deficit to 8-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, Hayley Evans got the inning started with a double to right field, which allowed her to come around to score later in the inning when Paige Gerst reached via an error. Immaculata continued to threaten through the remainder of the inning as the Macs loaded the bases with two outs in the inning. Neumann was able to tightrope out of danger to send the game to the sixth inning with the Macs trailing 8-3.

In the sixth inning, Immaculata loaded the bases with just one out but Neumann was able to work out of danger to preserve an 8-3 lead heading to the seventh.
Neumann added one more run in the top of the seventh to extend its lead to 9-3 heading to the home half of the seventh.

In the home seventh, Immaculata threatened but could not push any runs across in the 9-3 setback.

Oldham got the start in the circle for game two lasting just 1.2 surrendering six runs on six hits to take the loss. Renee DeAngelis entered to get out of the inning surrendering one run on two hits. Kristin Carter entered in relief of DeAngelis and went five innings scattering just five hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out one to keep Immaculata within striking distance.

Ashlynne Scardino got the start for Neumann in game two going 5.1 scattering nine hits and three runs while walking while walking five in the victory. Sarni entered in relief of Scardino tossing the final 1.2 scattering one hit and one walk while striking out three to close out the victory.

Immaculata will be back in action on Wednesday afternoon vs Marywood with that doubleheader set to begin at 3 p.m.