Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
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STONY BROOK, N.Y. - After taking a week off, the Manhattan College softball team returned to action at Stony Brook on Thursday afternoon. Despite nearly being no-hit, the Lady Jaspers had the tying run on base in the seventh before dropping a 5-3 decision in game one. Manhattan (11-15) then rallied back to claim a 6-4 victory over the Seawolves (10-17) in the nightcap at University Field.
The twinbill got underway 20 minutes late due to overnight rain, and in game one, Stony Brook jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first. However, the Lady Jaspers got one back in the top of the second, as Stony Brook pitcher Colleen Matthes issued four walks in the inning, including one to Jocelin Whitmore (La Habra, Calif.) with the bases loaded.
Stony Brook increased its advantage to 3-1 on Taylor Chain's RBI double in the third, then made it 4-1 on an RBI single by Elsie Fortier in the bottom of the fifth. After Manhattan left the bases loaded (on three more walks) in the top of the sixth, the Seawolves added another tally in the bottom half of the inning.
Despite putting at least one runner on base in every inning except the first, Manhattan hadn't picked up a hit through six. With one out in the top of the seventh, Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.) was hit by a pitch, then Jaci Rahey (West Milford, N.J.) reached on an error. Ashley Rampino (Manalapan, N.J.) drew a two-out walk, and Manhattan notched its second run when Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) walked. Pinch hitter Kelly Murray (Leominster, Mass.) then came to the plate as the tying run, and she broke up the no-hitter with an infield single that scored Rahey. However, pinch runner Amanda Berrios (Carteret, N.J.) was thrown out trying to score from second on the play, giving the Seawolves a 5-3 victory.
Murray's RBI single was Manhattan's only hit, but the Lady Jaspers drew 12 walks and stranded 10 base runners. Keller walked three times and Amanda Babcock (Haverstraw, N.Y.) didn't have an official at-bat in the game, walking in each of her three plate appearances. Rampino (3-7) threw a complete game in the circle, surrendering five runs on eight hits, striking out five and walking six.
Matthes (7-11) only allowed the one hit, but walked 12 Lady Jaspers, resulting in three runs (one earned). She also struck out six in seven innings. At the plate, Stony Brook collected eight hits, led by Bernadette Tenuto's 3-for-4 effort. She also drove in a pair of runs. Chain went 2-for-3 at the plate.
"I was a little disappointed in the at-bats in the first game," Head Coach Tom Pardalis said. "I didn't think we did a good job offensively. Then in the second game, we got some key hits and we were able to put some runs on the board."
The Seawolves put up another two-spot in the first inning of game two, but Manhattan went in front with a five-run third. After Heather Leone (Brick, N.J.) reached on an error to start the inning, Megan Weaver (Congers, N.Y.) walked and Berrios delivered an infield single to load the bases. Murray was up next, and she delivered a scorching line drive that was just fair over third base, tying the game at 2-2. Melissa Donnelly (Long Beach, N.Y.) followed with a single to the gap in right center that gave the Lady Jaspers the lead. Erika Sullivan (Bay Shore, N.Y.) then walked to load the bases for Babcock with two out. She connected on a drive to center field, plating two more runs.
Chain had an RBI double for Stony Brook in the bottom half of the third, but Manhattan regained its three-run advantage in the fifth when Melissa Cascio (Kings Park, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch and Sullivan followed with a double to right center. The Seawolves capped off the scoring when Tenuto hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the sixth, and the Lady Jaspers earned a doubleheader split with a 6-4 triumph.
Manhattan used a completely different starting lineup in game two, as only two Lady Jaspers started at the same position in both contests. Murray and Babcock both drove in a pair of runs, while Donnelly was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Sullivan (6-4) tossed a complete game, giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits and striking out four.
Teunto and Chain went a combined 4-for-6 with two runs scored and four RBIs for Stony Brook. Tenuto was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Chain also had two hits and drove in three. Alexandra Clark (0-3) got the start in the circle and went 2.2 innings. She surrendered five runs (two earned) on four hits, struck out four and walked two. Chain relieved her in the third and yielded one run on three hits with three strikeouts over the final 4.1 innings.
The Lady Jaspers open Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play this weekend, when they visit Niagara and Canisius, the two teams that defeated Manhattan in last season's MAAC Tournament. Manhattan takes on Niagara (10-10, 0-0 MAAC) at 12 p.m. on Saturday, then faces Canisius (11-11, 0-0 MAAC) at 12 p.m. on Sunday.
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