Newark, N.J. (March 30, 2007)?Michelle Gutierrez's two-run single in the bottom of the 11th inning gave the Lady Jaspers a come from behind, 5-4 win over the Red Foxes in game one of today's doubleheader. In game two, Melissa Giordano's RBI double in the top of the seventh inning broke a 2-2 tie and helped Marist avoid the sweep. Both teams are now 1-1 in MAAC play.
The Lady Jaspers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game one, getting RBI from Lyndzie Phillips and Stephanie Gozdziewski in the third inning. Marist however answered back, scoring once in the fourth inning and twice in the fifth to take a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Manhattan plated the tying run on Phillips' RBI single that scored Liz Strein from second base.
In the top of the 11th inning, Marist finally broke through off Liz Pennino, who had pitched five scoreless innings of relief to that point, when Jessica Green hit a solo homerun to centerfield, giving Marist a 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Gutierrez singled up the middle off of Marist pitcher Megan Rigos, plating Gozdziewski and Danielle Just to give Manhattan the dramatic, walk-off win.
In game two, Manhattan trailed 2-1 in the sixth inning, but tied the score on an RBI single by Gutierrez off of Marist pitcher Caitlin Carpentier. With Gutierrez on second base and two outs, Candice Sheridan ripped a single into centerfield, but Gutierrez was thrown out at home, preventing Manhattan from taking the lead.
In the top of the seventh, Giordano's RBI double of Pennino, who came on in relief as well in this game, gave Marist a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Kerry Cook singled down the left field line with two outs of Rigos, but the lefty retired Liz Strein to end the game.
Manhattan returns to action tomorrow when they welcome in Siena College to Branch Brook Park. Game one is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.
