CHESTER, Pa. - The Widener softball team won both games of their home-opener double-header against Neumann University.

The Pride won the first game 9-7 and the second game 7-6. This improves the Pride's record to 4-4 on the season. They have yet to meet a conference opponent. 

HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST NEUMANN GAME 1

A scoreless first inning made way for Nuemann to get some numbers on the scoreboard as they scored seven runs in the top of the second inning. Despite the Knight's lead, the Pride never gave up and battled hard defensively to prevent the Knights from scoring any more runs. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Leah DiGiandomenico reached first off an error by the shortstop and sent Blake Shuler home. An RBI double by Rebecca Tiley sent two across home plate and the Pride finished the fourth inning 7-3. Pride's defense closed the top of the fifth in three batters and got some more offense moving. Katelyn Tong doubled to left-center and brought in two runs and then Tiley homered, bringing in two more runs and scoring herself to tie the score at 7-7. Liv Robinson bunted and brought home Jalia Lawrence and Becca Buckman doubled to bring in Robinson to secure the lead, putting the score at 9-7. The game finished with no more runs scored and Widener walked away with a Game 1 comeback victory. Mikayla Fedele and Samantha McCarthy pitched for the Blue and Gold, McCarthy took the win. 

HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST NEUMANN GAME 2

The Knights took no time to get a run when Bri Reim crossed home off a Pagliaro grounder. Sam McCarthy was quick to answer in the bottom of the first with a single that sent Kailyn Johnson home, putting the score at 1-1. The Pride offense found themselves in a few scoreless innings, unlike the Knights who scored five runs in four innings. With the score at 6-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Widener got hot and McCarthy started to get the bases moving, singling and sending Johnson home. Becca Tiley reached on a fielder's choice and then DiGiandomenico came to the plate and crushed a homerun, sending McCarthy and Tiley home. The score sat at 6-5 in favor of the Knights at the end of the fifth inning. A scoreless sixth for both teams put the Pride defense to the test, but they cinched three outs with ease. Coming into the final inning, Tiley smashes the game-tying homerun and brings the score to 6-6. With two outs and runners on first and second, Mikayla Fedele steps up to the plate and hits a walk-off single to send the winning run home. the Pride wins 7-6 and completes the sweep over the Knights.
Caitlyn Katchur pitched the first five innings and walked away with the win. McCarthy finished the final two innings. 

UP NEXT
The Pride is back home on Saturday at the Widener Softball Field to take on Stevenson in another doubleheader. Game one is set for 1 p.m.