Box Score
Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – On Friday afternoon, the Manhattan College softball team opened its home schedule with a matchup against Fairleigh Dickinson. The Jaspers (2-3) took a 4-1 lead into the seventh inning, but the Knights (1-3) rallied for seven runs in the final frame to earn an 8-4 victory at Gaelic Park.
Manhattan got on the board first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. The Jaspers put two runners on when Stephanie Reinhardt (Albany, N.Y.) and Andi Stallard (Katy, Texas) both walked before Emily Cutler (Bloomingdale, N.Y.) sent a drive to left field. The ball was misplayed in the high sun and rolled to the wall for a two-run double.
In the bottom of the third, the Jaspers loaded the bases with one out after Elena Bowman (San Mateo, Calif.) was hit by a pitch, Amanda Paxson (Cedar Grove, N.J.) singled and Briana Matazinsky (Valley Falls, N.Y.) drew a walk. Reinhardt was up next and she lifted a sacrifice fly to center that made it 3-0 Manhattan. However, the throw was cut off, and the Knights were able to double Paxson off second for the final out of the inning. After Fairleigh Dickinson made it 3-1 with a run in the top of the fourth, Vazquez led off the bottom of the fifth with her second home run of the season, a long shot to center field.
It remained 4-1 until the top of the seventh. The Knights tied the game on three successive RBI singles, then Madison Lerma smashed a grand slam to left field that put Fairleigh Dickinson up 8-4. After Paxson drew a walk leading off the bottom of the seventh, Fairleigh Dickinson pitcher Megan Reiner struck out the Jaspers in order to seal the Knights' 8-4 victory.
Cutler had a pair of doubles in the game, finishing 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Vazquez homered once and scored twice, while a Paxson single was Manhattan's only other hit of the contest. Reinhardt, meanwhile, recorded an RBI and a run scored. Amy Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) (1-2) took the loss after yielding six runs (five earned) on nine hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in 6.1 innings of work. Matazinsky allowed two runs on two hits and picked up a strikeout in 0.2 innings.
Fairleigh Dickinson collected 11 hits as a team, with the first five batters in the Knights' lineup all recording two hits, an RBI and at least one run scored. Madison Lerma collected four RBIs on her grand slam. Reiner (1-2) went the distance in the circle, surrendering four runs on four hits, striking out 10 and walking 10.
The Jaspers were originally scheduled to face Mount St. Mary's (1-10) at 9 a.m. on Saturday, but that contest has been postponed until Monday due to rain in the forecast. Manhattan and Mount St. Mary's will face off at 11 a.m. on Sunday, followed by a matchup between the Jaspers and Morgan State (1-8) at 1 p.m.
