Jaspers, Blackbirds Split Doubleheader at Gaelic Park

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Behind Kate Bowen's (Newtown, Conn.) 3-for-3 performance at the plate and two-hit shutout in the circle, the Manhattan College softball team notched an 8-0, five-inning victory over LIU Brooklyn in game one of a doubleheader at Gaelic Park on Saturday.  The Jaspers (4-14) then hit three home runs in the second game, but the Blackbirds (11-22) secured a split with a 10-7 triumph.

Bowen gave up a single to Whitney West leading off the game, but got out of the inning unscathed.  She then got all the offense she needed in the bottom of the first.  Bowen started the rally with a single up the middle before the Jaspers loaded the bases with one out after Amanda Paxson (Cedar Grove, N.J.) singled and Jenn Vazquez (Fairfield, Conn.) walked.  Andi Stallard (Katy, Texas) then delivered a base hit to center and Anna Crowley (Eastchester, N.Y.) followed with an infield single.

The first two LIU Brooklyn hitters reached base in the second before Bowen notched back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout, the first three of eight consecutive outs she would record.  Madison Zymkowitz, who was the last LIU Brooklyn hitter to reach base prior to the string with a second-inning single, snapped the streak with a two-out walk in the fourth.  Bowen also walked a pair of Blackbirds in the fifth.

In the bottom of the fifth, Vazquez ripped a leadoff single before walks to Crowley and Mickayla Romero (Las Vegas, Nev.) loaded the bases with one out.  Meredith Bryant (Brielle, N.J.) then drew a walk to force in a run, and Manhattan added another tally when Crowley scored on an errant pickoff throw.  After Bowen walked, Elena Bowman (San Mateo, Calif.) became the fourth straight Jasper to receive a free pass, forcing in a run.  Another run came across when Paxson was hit by a pitch, bringing up Vazquez for the second time in the inning.  She sent a long drive to deep center that went for a double, allowing two runs to score, giving Manhattan an 8-0 lead and immediately ending the contest on the run rule.

The Jaspers tallied nine hits in game one, with Bowen going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and Vazquez finishing 2-for-3 (both hits coming in the fifth inning) with two RBIs.  Bowen (3-3) also tossed a gem in the circle.  She struck out two and walked five in a five-inning, two-hit shutout.

West and Zymkowitz recorded the only two hits for the Blackbirds.  Cassie Vondrak (1-10) started in the circle and pitched 3.1 innings before she had to be removed with an injury.  Vondrak yielded two runs on seven hits, struck out seven and walked two.  Alyssa Lanktree-Dotson gave up three runs on one hit and walked two in 1.1 innings, while Heather White allowed all five batters she faced to reach base on a hit and three walks.  She also hit a batter and was charged with three runs.

The wind picked up for the second game, and the result was a combined four home runs.  The Blackbirds struck first on Kayla Gloady's three-run shot in the top of the first, but Paxson went yard in Manhattan's half of the inning to also knock in Bowman and cut the Jaspers' deficit to 3-2.  The Jaspers tied it in the third when Vazquez hit a line drive that just kept carrying to left center field for her second home run of the year.

LIU Brooklyn countered with a three-spot in the top of the fourth.  Lauren Morizi ripped a two-run single with the bases loaded, and Jazmin Rodriguez followed with an RBI base hit of her own.  The Blackbirds then extended their advantage to 8-3 on Gloady's two-run single in the sixth.

However, the Jaspers responded in the bottom of the sixth.  Three consecutive pinch hitters—Bryant, Kelsey Brennan (East Windsor, N.J.) and Crowley—drew walks to start the inning, and Bowen knocked in a run on a fielder's choice.  Bowman was up next, and she belted her sixth home run of the year, a deep shot to left that brought Manhattan within one at 8-7.  The Blackbirds scored twice in the top of the seventh, though, and Stallard was left on second after a one-out walk in the bottom half of the inning, sealing a 10-7 win for LIU Brooklyn.

Bowman was the only Jasper with a multi-hit game in the nightcap.  She finished 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs.  Paxson collected a pair of RBIs, and Bowen knocked in the only Manhattan run that didn't come via the long ball.  Amy Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) (0-8) suffered the loss after giving up six runs on eight hits while striking out eight and walking four in five innings.  Danielle Gabriel (Island Heights, N.J.) allowed two runs and three hits in her inning of work, while Erin Hamm (Collegeville, Pa.) finished up by surrendering two runs on four hits in one inning.

For the Blackbirds, who combined for 15 hits in the contest, West went 4-for-5 with a run scored.  Gloady was 2-for-4 with a runs scored and five RBIs, while Morizi finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs.  Madison Green added a pair of hits, including a double, and scored twice.  Shelley Procter (9-12) went the distance in the circle, yielding seven runs on six hits while walking eight and striking out two.