Bowman Hits Two More Homers In Loss at Saint Mary?s

MORAGA, Calif. – Elena Bowman (San Mateo, Calif.) went deep in each of her final two at-bats against Mount St. Mary's on Monday to tie the Manhattan College softball program record for career home runs.  It took her three at-bats on Thursday to break the record.  Playing in front of her family and friends, Bowman hit two more long balls and had five RBIs against host Saint Mary's at Cottrell Field.  However, the Gaels (11-19) rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to notch a 6-5 victory over the Jaspers (6-4).

Saint Mary's scored two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to go up 3-0 heading to the sixth.  After Mickayla Romero (Las Vegas, Nev.) drew a leadoff walk, Bowman hit her record-breaking 31^st career homer, a two-run shot to right that made it 3-2.  With two out, Sydney Weedon (North Tustin, Calif.) singled and Stephanie Reinhardt (Albany, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch.  The runners moved up to second and third on a passed ball, but the tying run was left stranded on base.

However, the Jaspers rallied again in the top of the seventh.  Meredith Bryant (Brielle, N.J.) started the inning with a single through the left side, and she moved to second on Emily Cutler's (Bloomingdale, N.J.) sacrifice bunt.  Romero then drew a walk, bringing up Bowman.  And she delivered a tape-measure blast to left center that gave Manhattan a 5-3 lead.

After Amy Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) got the first out in the bottom of the seventh on a fly ball to right, back-to-back singles by Sarah Lira and Giana Bilotta put the tying runs on for the Gaels.  Erica Musgrave followed with a double down the left field line that cut the Jaspers' advantage to 5-4.  Shannon Low then delivered a walk-off, two-run double to right, as Saint Mary's snapped Manhattan's four-game winning streak with a 6-5 victory.

Manhattan outhit Saint Mary's 11-10, with Bowman collecting a single to go along with her two home runs.  Romero also scored twice, while Weedon, Reinhardt and Bryant all had multi-hit games.  Bright (3-3) took the loss after surrendering six runs (five earned) on nine hits with four walks and four strikeouts in 6.1 innings.

Musgrave, Low and Hailey Sparacino recorded two hits apiece for Saint Mary's.  Sparacino and Low both drove in a pair, while Musgrave also scored twice.  Starting pitcher Lujane Mussadi lasted six-plus innings and gave up three runs on 10 hits while striking out one and walking one.  Katie Moss (5-4) earned the win in relief after yielding two runs, one hit and a walk in one inning of work.  She also picked up a strikeout.