Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
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WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - On a picture perfect Tuesday afternoon, Ashley Rampino (Manalapan, N.J.) tossed a three-hit shutout to lead the Manhattan College softball team (18-20) to a 4-0 victory over Monmouth (16-19) in the second game of a doubleheader at MU Softball Park. Monmouth won the first game by a 6-2 count.
Rampino was responsible for all the offense Manhattan would need in game two with a first inning RBI single. Kristina Walraven (Thompson Ridge, N.Y.) had opened the game with an infield single, then moved to second on a groundout before scoring on Rampino's base knock to center.
After an infield single by Kate Kuzma in the bottom of the first, Rampino retired seven straight Hawks before Kayla Weiser drew a leadoff walk in the fourth. Kuzma bunted her over to second, and Weiser moved to third on Emily DeLong's flyout to right. However, Rampino got Colleen Kelly to ground back to the circle, ending the inning.
The Lady Jaspers added some insurance in the top of the seventh. Carla Velasquez (Miami, Fla.) ripped a one-out single, then moved to second on a wild pitch. After Nicole Michel (Massapequa, N.Y.) drew a pinch hit walk, Monica Evangelista (Cedar Grove, N.J.) found the gap in right center for a two-run triple that made it 3-0. Jaci Rahey (West Milford, N.J.) was up next, and she drove in Evangelista with a double down the left field line.
Rampino (6-9) allowed a single and a walk in the bottom of the seventh before finishing up the masterpiece on Shannon Fitzgerald's grounder to first. She gave up just three hits, all singles, struck out four and walked three for Manhattan's second complete game shutout of the year. Rampino was also one of four Lady Jaspers with two hits in the game, as Manhattan collected nine as a team. Evangelista went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Weiser, Kuzma and Kelly had the three Monmouth singles in game two. Lauren Sulick (15-11), who had earned the win in game one, took the loss after going the first four innings. She surrendered one run on four hits and struck out three. Dara Palms pitched the final three innings, giving up three runs on five hits, striking out three and walking two.
Monmouth went up 1-0 in the third inning of game one, but the Lady Jaspers immediately responded with a two-spot in the top of the fourth. Evangelista started the inning with a triple, and scored the tying run on Amanda Babcock's (Haverstraw, N.Y.) sacrifice fly to right. Meghan McDevitt (Nutley, N.J.) then belted her first career home run, a solo shot to left field that gave Manhattan a 2-1 advantage.
Manhattan starter Melissa Donnelly (Long Beach, N.Y.) allowed just one run and four hits over the first four innings before giving way to Erika Sullivan (Bay Shore, N.Y.) in the fifth. After getting through the fifth inning, Sullivan ran into trouble in the sixth. Kuzma started the inning with a leadoff single to right, then Kaitie Schumacher singled and Lauren Hayes walked to load the bases. With the bases juiced, Donnelly returned to the circle, but she walked Alicia DeSanto to tie the game. Monmouth then took advantage of two Manhattan errors to add four unearned tallies, putting the Hawks ahead 6-2 going into the seventh.
A pair of walks put two runners on with one out in the top of the seventh, but Sulick struck out Donnelly and Evangelista to end the threat and give Monmouth the victory.
The Lady Jaspers collected six hits in game one, with Rahey going 2-for-3. Evangelista went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored. Donnelly pitched a total of 4.1 innings in game one, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out four and walking two. Sullivan (8-7) took the loss after giving up three runs (one earned) and three hits with a walk and a pair of strikeouts in 1.2 innings.
For Monmouth, DeSanto was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, while Schumacher also went 2-for-3 and scored a run. Tish Derer crossed the plate twice for the Hawks in game one. Sulick went the distance in the circle, surrendering two runs on six hits. She struck out six and walked four.
The Lady Jaspers resume Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play with a pair of doubleheaders this weekend. Manhattan (5-3 MAAC) hosts Rider (7-30, 1-9 MAAC) at 12 p.m. on Saturday, then visits first-place Fairfield (22-15, 7-1 MAAC) for a 1 p.m. twinbill on Sunday.
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