Jaspers Take Two From Niagara, Set Up First-Place Showdown

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Manhattan College softball team entered this weekend's games knowing that Sunday's doubleheader at Canisius could go a long way in determining home field advantage for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament.  But in order for Sunday's contests to matter, the Jaspers first had to take care of business against Niagara on Saturday.  And Manhattan did just that, notching a doubleheader sweep of the Purple Eagles at Niagara Field.  After notching a 12-0, five-inning victory in the first game, the Jaspers (23-12, 12-2 MAAC) knocked off Niagara (2-32, 2-10 MAAC) by an 11-3 count in game two.

Manhattan immediately went to work in game one, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first.  Mickayla Romero (Las Vegas, Nev.) ripped an RBI triple, while Elena Bowman (San Mateo, Calif.) and Jenn Vazquez (Fairfield, Conn.) each singled home a run in the inning.  The Jaspers picked up three more in the second on a Bowman RBI double and Amanda Paxson's (Cedar Grove, N.J.) two-run double.

After Victoria Ross (Bloomfield, N.J.) doubled home a run to make it 7-0 in the third, the Jaspers erupted for five runs in the top of the fourth.  Paxson doubled with one out and scored on Vazquez's single up the middle.  Sydney Weedon (North Tustin, Calif.) followed with a single, then Stephanie Reinhardt (Albany, N.Y.) walked to load the bases for Briana Matazinsky (Valley Falls, N.Y.).  Matazinsky, who had two grand slams last weekend, crushed another, going deep to center field to increase Manhattan's lead to 12-0.

That was more than enough offense for Amy Bright (Manlius, N.Y.).  The only hit she gave up was a bunt single to Katelyn Gruarin leading off the bottom of the first.  Bright loaded the bases in that inning before inducing an Ally Gay fly ball to end the threat.  That started a string of 13 consecutive Niagara hitters she retired to end the game, as Bright (13-5) recorded her fifth shutout of the season.  She struck out four and walked one in the one-hitter.

Offensively, the Jaspers pounded out 11 hits, and all nine Manhattan starters scored at least one run.  Romero, Bowman, Paxson and Vazquez collected two hits apiece, while Bowman also had two runs scored and two RBIs.  Paxson and Vazquez each drove in a pair, and Romero crossed the plate two times.  Matazinsky knocked in four and scored twice.

Niagara pitcher Sydney Smyers (1-18) was charged with 12 runs on 11 hits in five innings of work.  She recorded four strikeouts and issued four walks.

In game two, the Jaspers took advantage of Purple Eagle miscues to plate two runs in the top of the second.  Niagara got one back on Gruarin's RBI single in the bottom half of the inning before Manhattan went up 3-1 on a bases loaded single by Emily Cutler (Bloomingdale, N.J.) in the fourth.

Another Niagara error led to two more Manhattan runs in the fifth, then Bowman made it 7-1 with a two-run homer to left center in the sixth.  She has now belted a career-high 14 long balls this season.

Pinch hitter Andi Stallard (Katy, Texas) singled leading off the top of the seventh and Matazinsky followed with an RBI double.  Anna Crowley (Eastchester, N.Y.) then knocked Matazinsky in with a pinch-hit double down the left field line before Zee Pierce (Bronx, N.Y.) reached on an infield single for her first collegiate hit.  With two down, Paxson ripped a double down the right field line.  Two runs came across on the play, increasing Manhattan's lead to 11-1.  After the Purple Eagles scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh, Erin Hamm (Collegeville, Pa.) got pinch hitter Rebecca Saggiomo looking to end the game.

As a team, Manhattan pounded out 16 hits in game two.  Bowman had a homer and a pair of singles, finishing 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.  Vazquez and Weedon added two hits apiece, while Paxson went 1-for-5 with two RBIs.  In addition to going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, Matazinsky (8-4) earned the win in the circle.  She gave up one run on six hits, struck out two and walked three in five innings.  Hamm pitched the final two innings, allowing two unearned runs, two hits and one walk while recording a pair of strikeouts.

For the Purple Eagles, Gruarin, Amanda Werth and Sarah March all went 2-for-4 in the game.  March also had two RBIs and a run scored, while Gruarin picked up the other Niagara RBI.  Taylor Greiger (1-12) took the loss after yielding 11 runs (seven earned) on 16 hits in a complete game effort.  She struck out one and walked one.

With the two wins, Manhattan equaled the program record for conference victories and reduced its magic number to clinch a MAAC Tournament berth to one.  The Jaspers can secure a place in the six-team field as early as Sunday with either one win or a Marist loss.