Hackettstown, NJ – The Centenary College (14-18, 13-5 CSAC) softball team fell to No. 9 ranked Neumann University (23-5, 17-1 CSAC) in this afternoon's Colonial States Athletic Conference doubleheader.  Despite the pair of losses, the Cyclones have clinched a playoff berth for the seventh consecutive season.

Neumann 8, Centenary 5
The Knights jumped out to an early lead as they scored two runs in each of the first three innings for the 6-0 advantage.

After keeping the Cyclones scoreless through five innings of play, Neumann tacked on two more in the top of the sixth for the 8-0 lead.

Trailing 8-0 in the bottom of the sixth, the Cyclones were down to their last at bats but their bats came alive as they rattled off three hits to score two runs and keep the game going.  Becca Raymond started things off with a double to right center followed by a single from Jessie Curtis.  Alexis Wilson would work a walk to load the bases as Samantha Belmonte's single up the middle drove in Raymond and Curtis (8-2).

In the seventh frame, the Centenary defense kept the Knights off the board to continue their momentum at the plate in their last at bat.  After two consecutive singles from Ashley Eisenstein and Heather Passaro, Carolyn Clites blasted a three-run homerun over the fence to close the gap (8-5). 

With the bases now cleared, the Cyclones continued to occupy the bags as Erin Walsh and Jess Curtis singled, but were unable to push them across the plate stranding both runners.

Centenary's Kylie Morgan-Polefka suffered the loss with three innings pitched giving up six runs, while teammate Katie Lauria threw four innings allowing two runs. 

Belmonte went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate driving in two runs, while Curtis, Raymond and Passaro collected a pair of hits. 

Neumann 9, Centenary 0
In game two, Neumann took control of the game early once again as they led 5-0 after two innings, while adding a pair of runs in the fifth and the seventh to lead 9-0.

Despite only registering six hits, the Cyclones had chances to get on the board but were unable to score leaving 10 runners stranded throughout the first five innings of play. 
Samantha Belmonte tallied two hits for a total of five hits on the day, while Curtis, Raymond, Clites and Passaro each recorded a hit.

Centenary's Sammie Daring threw a complete game from the circle allowing nine runs off 14 hits, while striking out two Knights, while Haley Broomell gave up just six hits, while striking out nine batters.

Centenary returns to the field to host Baptist Bible Friday April 24^th @ 3pm, while also celebrating senior day. 

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