Manhattan Splits Pair at Rebel Spring Games

Manhattan-Green Bay Box Score

Manhattan-Hartford Box Score 

KISSIMMEE, Fla. ? The Manhattan College softball team used a three-run seventh inning rally to snap its eight-game losing streak and walk-off with a 4-3 victory over Green Bay (9-8) at the Rebel Spring Games on Friday morning.  The Lady Jaspers (3-13) dropped an 8-0 decision to Hartford (3-7) later on Friday at the Osceola County Sports Complex.

The game against Green Bay started as a pitcher's duel between Ashley Rampino (Manalapan, N.J.) and Katie Cooney.  The two hurlers traded zeroes until the top of the fifth, when Green Bay got on the board first.  Number-nine hitter Jenna Nitti got the rally started with a one-out bunt single.  Melani Niederer followed with a single to right field, and Nitti was thrown out trying to advance to third.  Krissy Hanson was up next, and she roped a single up the middle that knocked in Niederer with the game's first run.

Manhattan responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the fifth.  Jaci Rahey (West Milford, N.J.) whacked a one-out double, then Kaitlin Rodriguez (Dumont, N.J.) was sent in to pinch run.  Rodriguez moved to third on a passed ball and tied the game when Kristina Walraven (Thompson Ridge, N.Y.) reached on an error.

After a scoreless sixth, the Phoenix tacked on a pair of runs in the top of the seventh.  Kendra Woepse smacked a leadoff double and was sacrificed over to third.  Green Bay regained the lead on Niederer's RBI single.  Niederer moved to third on a single by Hanson and gave the Phoenix an insurance run when she scored on Sara Junion's base hit.

Melissa Cascio (Kings Park, N.Y.) drew a one-out walk to start Manhattan's game-winning rally.  She moved to third on Nicole Michel's (Kings Park, N.Y.) single, then scored on a double by Amanda Genovese (Bethany, Conn.).  After Walraven was intentionally walked to load the bases, Erika Sullivan (Bay Shore, N.Y.) ended the game with a two-run double that gave the Lady Jaspers a come-from-behind 4-3 victory.

Rampino (2-3) threw all seven innings, giving up three runs and 11 hits while striking out two and walking one.  Devon Gustafson (Peoria, Ariz.) was the only Manhattan player to have a multi-hit game.  She went 2-for-3 at the plate.  Sullivan was 1-for-4 with the two game-winning RBIs.

Niederer had three of Green Bay's 11 hits and scored twice, while Hanson went 2-for-3 with an RBI.  In the circle, Cooney (2-3) surrendered four runs (three earned) and seven hits while striking out three and walking four in 6.1 innings.

In Manhattan's second game of the day, Hartford jumped ahead early with four runs in the bottom of the first.  The big hit in the inning was Rachel Cloncick's two-run double, while Lauren Kamena followed with an RBI single.  The Hawks added a fourth run on a Manhattan error.  A bases loaded walk to Kayla Demarest in the bottom of the third made it 5-0 Hartford.

Manhattan's best scoring chance came in the top of the sixth when Donnelly drew a leadoff walk, then moved to second on an illegal pitch.  Rampino followed with a single to set up a two runners on, nobody out situation for the Lady Jaspers, but Hartford starter Brittney Stratton got out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts and a fly ball to center.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Hawks added three runs to earn an 8-0 mercy rule victory.  Amanda Sais hit a one-out double, then Ann Kyzer drew a walk.  Clonick was up next, and she ended the game with a three-run homer.

Stratton (2-4) surrendered just three Manhattan hits and struck out 10 in six innings.  She also walked five.  Clonick was 2-for-3 with five RBIs and two runs scored for the Hawks.  Sais went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, while Kyzer also scored twice.

Donnelly (1-6) started in the circle for the Lady Jaspers and took the loss after yielding five runs (four earned) in three innings.  She gave up just three hits, but walked five and didn't strike out a batter.  Rampino pitched the final 2.1 innings, yielding three runs on three hits with three strikeouts and three walks.  Rampino also had one of Manhattan's three hits in the game; Walraven and Genovese had the others.