Box Score
Box Score
BUFFALO, N.Y. – On Thursday afternoon, the third-seeded Manhattan College softball team faced top-seeded Canisius in the elimination round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament. Needing a victory to keep their season alive, that's exactly what the Jaspers (26-19) got, knocking out the MAAC regular season co-champion Griffs (26-19) with a 2-1 triumph at the Demske Sports Complex.
Looking to give his offense a boost, Head Coach Tom Pardalis tinkered with his lineup, moving MAAC Player of the Year Elena Bowman (San Mateo, Calif.) into the leadoff spot. The changes paid off right away, as Manhattan scored twice in the top of the first. After back-to-back singles by Jenn Vazquez (Fairfield, Conn.) and Amanda Paxson (Cedar Grove, N.J.), Mickayla Romero (Las Vegas, Nev.) ripped a two-out double to the gap in left center, giving the Jaspers a 2-0 lead.
That would turn out to be all the run support Amy Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) needed. Manhattan's First Team All-MAAC pitcher was superb, allowing just four singles over the first six innings. The Jaspers almost added to their lead in the top of the fifth. However, Bowman was thrown out trying to score from second on Paxson's single up the middle, ending the inning.
After Manhattan stranded two runners in the top of the seventh, Canisius loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half of the inning. Jessica Berzins then ripped an RBI single to left field, cutting the Jaspers' lead to 2-1. However, pinch runner Erika Mackie rounded third a little too far on the play and was unable to get back, as left fielder Andi Stallard (Katy, Texas) threw behind the runner and Romero applied the tag for out number two. Bright then struck out Meghan Cuda to finish off the 2-1 victory and eliminate Canisius, the tournament hosts.
It was just the third-ever victory for Manhattan in 13 all-time MAAC Tournament meetings against Canisius. The other two wins came in 1999, as the Jaspers defeated the Griffs twice in the championship round for their only MAAC title.
The Jaspers collected 10 hits in the contest, with Vazquez and Paxson both going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Sydney Weedon (North Tustin, Calif.) and Emily Cutler (Bloomingdale, N.J.) both finished 2-for-3, while Romero's two-run double was Manhattan's only extra-base hit in the game. Bright (15-9) gave up one run on seven hits, struck out eight and walked one in a 126-pitch complete game.
Michelle DelPrince and Samantha Sharkey each went 2-for-3 for Canisius, while Berzins was 1-for-4 with an RBI and Alexis Roman finished 1-for-3 with a run scored. Madi Weathers (11-10) threw 129 pitches in a losing effort. She allowed two runs on 10 hits and also struck out one.
With the win, Manhattan moved on to a matchup with fourth-seeded Siena (20-26-1), which eliminated sixth-seeded Iona earlier on Thursday, at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. The winner of the Jaspers-Saints contest will then take on the loser of the game between No. 2 Fairfield (22-21) and No. 5 Monmouth (18-23) for a place in the championship round at 4 p.m.
