Manhattan-Cleveland State Box Score
Manhattan-Howard Box Score
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Manhattan College softball team concluded action at the Rebel Spring Games with a pair of contests on Wednesday. A big sixth inning by Cleveland State (5-16) proved costly in the Jaspers' first game of day, a 10-6 loss to the Vikings. Manhattan (1-9) was then clipped by Howard (3-17), 5-2, at the Fortune Road Athletic Complex.
After struggling offensively for most of the trip, the Jasper bats came alive in the bottom of the second inning against Cleveland State. Manhattan took advantage of a Cleveland State error that allowed Mickayla Romero (Las Vegas, Nev.) to reach with one out. Kelly Murray (Leominster, Mass.) drew a walk, then the Jaspers got on the board on a single by Amanda Berrios (Carteret, N.J.). Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.) was up next, and she delivered a two-run single that made it 3-0.
However, Cleveland State struck back with five runs in the top of the third. Andrea Nagy doubled to drive in the first run, then Cynthia Woodard and Caila Ferro each belted a two-run single, putting the Vikings in front, 5-3. Manhattan tied it with a two-spot in the fourth. The first two Jaspers to come to the plate in the inning reached base, as Romero drew a walk and Amanda Paxson (Cedar Grove, N.J.) was hit by a pitch. With two out, Bowen smacked a game-tying two-run double.
The Vikings regained the lead on Dara Toman's solo home run in the top of the fifth, then added four more runs in the sixth. Toman's second home run of the game, a two-run shot, put Cleveland State in front 10-5.
Manhattan loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth, as Amy Bright's (Manlius, N.Y.) leadoff double was followed by a Murray walk, and Berrios was then hit by a pitch. Bright scored on a single by Jocelin Whitmore (La Habra, Calif.), but Cleveland State pitcher Megan Bashak was able to get out of the inning allowing just the one run. She then retired the Jaspers in order in the seventh to preserve Cleveland State's 10-6 victory.
Bowen finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs, while Berrios was 1-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI. Murray and Paxson both scored twice. Bowen made the start in the circle and went four innings. She allowed five runs on six hits, struck out four and walked two. Kelsi Redding (Tucson, Ariz.) (0-4) took the loss after giving up one run and three hits in 0.2 innings. Bright went the final 2.1 innings, surrendering four runs and four hits while striking out two.
Six different Cleveland State players had two hits, as the Vikings pounded out 13 as a team. Toman drove in three runs and also scored three times, while Nagy was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Sara Shields (4-2) gave up five runs (two earned) and four hits while striking out three and walking three in five innings to earn the win. Bashak went two innings, allowing one run on two hits, striking out one and walking one.
Bowen continued her hot hitting in the top of the first against Howard. She led off the game with a single, moved to second on an infield single by Bright, advanced to third on Amanda Babcock's (Haverstraw, N.Y.) sacrifice bunt, and scored on Jen Keller's (Woodridge, N.J.) RBI single that gave the Jaspers a 1-0 lead. Bowen struck again in the fifth, belting her first home run of the season, a solo shot that made it 2-0.
The Bison took advantage of some sloppy Manhattan defense to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth. The Jaspers committed two errors in the inning, leading to a pair of Howard runs. Howard then went in front with a three-spot in the sixth. With the bases loaded, Rebecca Kirshner ripped a two-run double that gave the Bison their first lead of the game. Howard added another run on Dominique Lawrence's RBI single. Trailing 5-2, Manhattan was unable to rally in the top of the seventh, as Lawrence retired the side in order.
Bowen had two more hits against Howard, giving her four in the two games. She scored both Manhattan runs and picked up an RBI on her solo homer. Keller went 1-for-3 at the plate and notched the other Manhattan RBI. Bright went the first five innings in the circle and allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits with a pair of strikeouts and a walk. Romero (0-1) pitched the sixth and took the loss. She was charged with three runs, four hits and a walk.
The top two hitters in the Howard lineup-Jenny Ly and Lorae Robinson combined to go 6-for-8 with three runs scored. Andasch Moore-Pryor went 2-for-3, while Lawrence was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Kirshner added a pair of RBIs and a run scored. Lawrence (1-7) went the distance in the circle, yielding two runs on five hits, striking out two and walking two.
With their annual trip to the Sunshine State now over, the Jaspers return north on Thursday before getting right back to action with a pair of contests on Friday. Manhattan takes part in Seton Hall's Strike Out Cancer Tournament for the second consecutive season, and action commences with round robin play on Friday. The Jaspers face Monmouth (5-3) at 2 p.m., then take on the host Pirates (10-10) at 4:30 p.m.
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