Manhattan-FDU Box Score
Manhattan-Hartford Box Score
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - On Friday, the Manhattan College softball team wrapped up its visit to the Sunshine State for the Rebel Spring Games. And Friday's results at the Fortune Road Athletic Complex summed up the way the Lady Jaspers' week went. Erika Sullivan (Bay Shore, N.Y.) was brilliant once again, as Manhattan (5-6) opened the day with an 8-0 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson (5-10), but wasn't able to rally after Hartford's five-run second inning in a 6-3 loss to the Hawks (6-3) later in the afternoon.
Unlike her previous two shutouts this week (both 1-0 wins), Sullivan got plenty of run support against Fairleigh Dickinson, as the Lady Jaspers gave her a 6-0 lead before she even threw a pitch. Kristina Walraven (Thompson Ridge, N.Y.) led off the game with a triple, then Melissa Donnelly (Long Beach, N.Y.) reached on an infield single and Ashley Rampino (Manalapan, N.J.) walked to load the bases. Jaci Rahey (West Milford, N.J.) and Nicole Michel (Massapequa, N.Y.) each followed with a two-run single to give Manhattan a 4-0 lead. After Monica Evangelista (Cedar Grove, N.J.) was hit by a pitch and Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) walked to load the bases again, Walraven came up for the second time in the inning and drew a walk. Donnelly also drew a bases-loaded walk before FDU finally got out of the inning when Rampino flied to left.
Walks continued to hurt the Knights in the top of the second, as the first two Manhattan hitters reached via the bases on balls before Michel delivered a single to load the bases. Evangelista then knocked in a run on a fielder's choice to make it 7-0. The Lady Jaspers added another run on the third when Donnelly came across on Rahey's double.
Sullivan gave up a pair of singles in the bottom of the first, but only surrendered one more hit after that. After she struck out Dana Walker in the bottom of the fifth, the game was called because of the eight-run rule. Sullivan (4-1) struck out four and didn't walk a batter.
Donnelly and Rahey both went 2-for-2 with two runs scored to pace the Manhattan offense. Rahey also drove in three, while Donnelly added one RBI. Michel also had a good day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Overall, the Lady Jaspers belted eight hits in the game.
Brianne Benedict, Mikayla Fernandez and Kristen Shreve had the lone singles for the Knights, each going 1-for-2. FDU sent just 17 batters to the plate in the game. Trina Fields (0-4) couldn't get out of the first inning and took the loss. She gave up six runs on four hits and walked two in 0.1 innings. Kara Boyd went 0.2 innings and surrendered one run before Maire Shaughnessy finished up and did a solid job, yielding one run and four hits with three strikeouts in four innings of work.
The Lady Jaspers spotted Hartford a 1-0 lead in their second game of the day, but Manhattan responded with three runs in the bottom of the first. Michel lifted a sacrifice fly for the Lady Jaspers' first run, then Rampino scored on a balk. Kelly Murray (Leominster, Mass.) followed with an RBI double to put the Lady Jaspers in front 3-1.
Hartford used the long ball to seize control of the game in the top of the second. First, Jordan Haines belted a solo homer, then Melani Maxell and Erica Phelps each drew a walk. After Jessica Oliveira singled to load the bases, Nicole Springer crushed a grand slam that gave the Hawks a 6-3 lead.
After going down quietly in the middle innings, Manhattan put together a rally in the bottom of the sixth. Michel started the inning with a single, then Evangelista and Carla Velasquez (Miami, Fla.) delivered singles to load the bases with one out. However, pinch hitter Melissa Cascio (Kings Park, N.Y.) bounced back to the pitcher to start an inning-ending double play and end the threat. The Lady Jaspers didn't threaten in the seventh and continued their trend of alternating wins and losses with a 6-3 defeat.
Manhattan actually outhit Hartford 9-7 in the game, led by two hits apiece from Rampino and Velasquez. Rampino also scored a run, while Michel and Murray each had a hit and an RBI. Rampino (0-4) went the first 1.2 innings in the circle and took the loss. She surrendered six runs (five earned) and five hits, struck out one and walked three. Donnelly took over after the grand slam and shut the Hawks down the rest of the way. She yielded just two hits and two walks while striking out five in 5.1 shutout innings.
Springer went 2-for-4 and had five of Hartford's six RBIs. Oliveira also went 2-for-4, while Phelps scored two runs. Siera Sheehan (2-2) went the distance in the circle, giving up three runs on nine hits and walking two.
After returning north on Saturday, the Lady Jaspers have more than a week off before they return to action. Manhattan makes the short trip to Columbia (4-12) for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Sunday, March 28. The Lady Jaspers and Lions met during the Rebel Games, with Manhattan posting a 7-3 victory on March 14.
