ASTON, PA - College of Notre Dame softball fell to Colonial States Athletic Conference leaders Neumann by scores of 10-3 and 8-0 on Saturday afternoon. The Gators are now 4-14 overall and 3-13 in league play, while the Knights improved to 16-13 overall and 14-1 in CSAC play.

Neumann got off to a quick 13-0 lead after three innings in the opener. Notre Dame got on board in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman Mindy Daugherty (Hampstead, MD/North Carroll) drew a one out walk and proceeded to steal second before junior Ashley Taylor (Edgewood, MD/Harford Tech.) hit an RBI triple, her team-leading second triple of the season.

The Gators kept the hits coming in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore Meghan Hartnett (Baltimore/Mount Carmel) and freshman pitcher Kirsten Smulovitz (Fallston, MD/Towson Catholic) opened the frame with a single and double, respectively. Senior co-captain Whitley Noel (Red Lion, PA/Red Lion Area) singled in Hartnett to make the score 13-2. Junior co-captain Cherish Deaver (Bel Air, MD/Fallston) scored Smulovitz on an RBI ground out to push the score to 13-3. Notre Dame couldn't get any closer as Neumann got the final outs of the fifth for the 13-3, five inning win.

Neumann once again got off to a fast start in the nightcap, scoring six of its eight runs in the first two innings. Knights pitcher Rachel Purporo had the Gators off balance the entire game, allowing just two singles while striking out eight in the complete game victory. Deaver and Daugherty accounted for the lone Gator hits. 

Notre Dame will next visit local NCAA Division I opponent Coppin State on Thursday evening for a 7 p.m. single game meeting.