Manhattan-Lehigh Box Score
Manhattan-Penn Box Score
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - After a wait that seemed like forever, the Manhattan College softball team finally opened its 2012 season with a pair of contests at the Rebel Spring Games on Friday. The Jaspers (0-2) dropped a 6-3 decision to Lehigh (8-7), then fell to Penn (8-5) by a score of 9-1 at Oren Brown Park.
Manhattan allowed a run in the bottom of the first inning against Lehigh before taking the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the third. Amanda Berrios (Carteret, N.J.) got the rally started with a one-out single. After stealing second, Berrios advanced to third on a single by Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.). Amanda Babcock (Haverstraw, N.Y.) walked to load the bases, then Carla Velasquez (Miami, Fla.) ripped a single to put the Jaspers up 2-1.
Lehigh regained the lead with a two-spot in the bottom of the fourth, and the Mountain Hawks extended their advantage to 6-2 with three more runs in the fifth. However, Manhattan immediately responded in the top of the sixth. The Jaspers loaded the bases on singles by Kelly Murray (Leominster, Mass.) and Sydney Weedon (Santa Ana, Calif.) sandwiched around a Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) walk. After a Lehigh pitching change, Berrios kept the rally going with an RBI single that made it 6-3. Manhattan would only get one, though, as Rebecca Bliss got the next two hitters to fly out to end the inning. Bliss then retired the Jaspers in order in the top of the seventh.
Berrios and Bowen each had two hits and a run scored against Lehigh. Overall, the Jaspers recorded seven hits in the contest. Kelsi Redding (Tucson, Ariz.) (0-1) made her Manhattan debut in the circle and went 4.1 innings. She allowed six runs on eight hits, struck out three and walked three before being relieved by Mickayla Romero (Las Vegas, Nev.). Romero gave up just two hits in 1.2 scoreless innings.
Jennifer Colquhoun went 3-for-4 with two runs scored for the Mountain Hawks. Julie Fernandez and Jacqi Kennelly added two hits apiece, while Emily Bausher and Kelsey Lee both had two RBIs. As a team, Lehigh pounded out 10 hits. Ashley Quigley (3-1) earned the win after going the first 5.1 innings in the circle. She surrendered three runs on six hits and walked four while striking out 11 Jaspers. Bliss picked up the save after yielding a hit and striking out one in 1.2 innings.
Manhattan was the home team against Penn, but fell behind early when the Quakers put up a three-spot in the top of the first. In the bottom half of the inning, the Jaspers loaded the bases on walks by Bowen and Babcock followed by a Velasquez single. Romero was then hit by a pitch, knocking in Bowen, before Amanda Paxson (Cedar Grove, N.J.) struck out to end the inning.
The Quakers put another run on the board in the third, then added three more in the top of the fourth. Penn made it 9-1 with two runs in the top of the sixth. Manhattan got a two-out single from Romero in the bottom half of the inning before Alexis Borden induced a Paxson ground ball to end the contest.
The Manhattan offense was stymied the entire game, as the Jaspers were held to just four hits. Babcock, Velasquez, Romero and Jocelin Whitmore (La Habra, Calif.) all recorded singles, while Romero picked up her first career RBI. Amy Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) (0-1) took the loss after allowing seven runs (six earned) on five hits in four innings.
Karina Rios was the only Quaker with a multi-hit effort. She went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Sydney Turchin and Elysse Gorney both scored twice, while Kayla Dahlerbruch and Vanessa Weaver drove in a pair of runs each. Borden (4-1) went the distance in the circle for Penn. She gave up one run on four hits, struck out seven and walked three.
The Jaspers continue their busy week in Florida with two more games on Saturday. Manhattan takes on Holy Cross (1-9) at 1 p.m., then meets Utah Valley (8-4) at 3 p.m.
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