From NYU Athletics

The New York University softball team defeated Marywood University 4-1 in the first round of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship on Wednesday, May 10, in Scranton, PA.

Cassi Parilus scattered seven hits and did not allow an earned run as the #4-seeded Violets (19-18) beat the #5 Pacers (19-17) to advance to this weekend's double-elimination portion of the tournament at top-seeded Arcadia University in Glenside, PA.

Parulis also struck out five batters in posting her fifth win of the season.

"Cassi has been pitching really well the last few weeks and she did a great job today," said Head Coach Now-Allah James. "She was very sharp."

In the first inning, Samantha Sicignano advanced to second on a hard-hit ball to left field that was ruled an error. Caroline Saccacio moved her over to third with a single before Ashley Mains drove Sicignano in to put NYU ahead 1-0.

Marywood tied the game in the second with an unearned run before Molly Webber restored the Violets' advantage with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning.

The score remained 2-1 until Sacaccio's two-RBI single in the sixth inning made it a 4-1 game and gave NYU a pair of insurance runs. 

"We got hits when we needed them, played solid defense and ran the bases aggressively," James explained. "But, we'll still have to play better if we want to win this tournament."