DOVER, Del.- In need of a win to keep its Atlantic East Championship aspirations alive for another day,  the Immaculata softball team erased a one-run deficit with a six-run sixth inning to defeat Neumann by a final of 7-2.

In the top of the first, Neumann opened the scoring with an RBI double to take an early 1-0 lead. Immaculata countered in the home half of the second with a solo home run off the bat of Keani Hindle to even the score at 1-1.

The game remained locked at 1-1 into the fifth inning when Neumann countered with a solo home run of its own down the left field line to take a 2-1 lead, which the Knights would hold into the sixth inning.

In the home half of the sixth, Paige Gerst evened the score with an RBI single into left, which scored Cat Knoll who had reached via a single to start the inning. Jess Oldham followed this up with an RBI single of her own to score Keani Hindle, which gave Immaculata its first lead of the game at 3-2. Alyssa Daly followed this up with an RBI single of her own to score Sarah Reed before coming around to score on an RBI single off the bat of Renee DeAngelis to extend the lead to 5-2. Sara Rode followed this up with an RBI groundout to plate Daly before another Knoll single scored DeAngelis to give the Macs a commanding 7-2 lead heading into the top of the seventh.

In the top of the seventh, Neumann threatened as its first batter of the inning reached via a walk but DeAngelis worked out of further danger to secure the 7-2 victory and advance to the second day of the Atlantic East Tournament.

DeAngelis pitched a gem for the Macs, going the distance scattering seven hits and two runs to earn the crucial victory. For Neumann, Jess Sarni went the distance surrendering 12 hits and seven runs while walking one and striking out three in the losing effort.

Immaculata will return to action tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. against the winner of the Wesley/Neumann game, which is being played this afternoon.