Jaspers Fall In California

Moraga, CA - Manhattan softball suffered losses to Bucknell and Saint Mary's on Friday, March 15, day one of the team's three-day tournament hosted by the Gaels. 

Freshman Megan Gillooley (Clifton Park, NY / Shenendehowa) went 3-5 on the day, earning two of the Jaspers three RBI and a slugging percentage of 1.000. The Jaspers drop to 6-7 on the young season.

Game 1: Bucknell 5, Manhattan 3

• The Jaspers opened their match-up with the Bison on an RBI single from junior Christine Gebhardt (Middletown, NJ / Middletown North) in the top of the first, putting the Jaspers up 1-0 early.
• Bucknell responded quickly, going on an offensive run in the bottom of the second and scoring four runs on three hits against starting pitcher Jessie Rising (Little Egg Harbor, NJ / Pinelands). Getting the Jaspers out of the inning, Rising first nabbed the assist on an out at home plate with the bases loaded, then forced the next batter to ground out to the pitcher's circle, the Bison leaving three on. 
• After Bucknell scored one more in the fourth, relief pitcher Kayla McDermott (Garnerville, NY / North Rockland) entered the game. She held the Bison to one hit through the sixth. 
• With two runners in scoring position in the top of the seventh, a triple from Gillooley drove in two runs, closing the gap to 5-3.
• On the next at bat, Rising walked to put the tying run on first for Manhattan with just one out. But Bucknell pitcher Raeanne Geffert was able to get Kyle Carr (Andover, NJ / Immaculate Heart Academy) swinging, and forced Kat Prevo (San Diego, CA / Our Lady of Peace) to ground out to the pitcher's circle for the final out of the game. 
• In addition to Gillooley's triple, Prevo and Annie Moore (Northridge, CA / El Camino Real) both doubled for the Jaspers in the game. 
• Rising took the loss for Manhattan. She is now 1-3 on the year.

Game 2: Saint Mary's 8, Manhattan 0 (5 innings)

• The Jaspers struggled to get going offensively in the second game of the day, with only Gillooley, Prevo and Adriana Gambino (Stamford, CT / Westhill) able to garner hits off of the Saint Mary's pitching stable. Gambino tallied a double in the top of the second, her fourth of the season.
• Starting pitcher Stephanie Kristo (San Jose, CA / Archbishop Mitty) went 2.2 innings in the pitcher's circle. She let up just four hits, but was relieved by McDermott down 1-0 with two men on in the third. The Gaels would score three runs on two hits before the Jaspers were able to get out of the inning.
• McDermott let up just one hit in the bottom of the fourth, facing just four batters in the inning.
• But the Gaels bats were on fire in the fifth, scoring four more runs on five hits and widening the gap to 8-0 before the game was called. 
• Kristo ended with the loss. She is 3-2 on the season.

Up Next:
Manhattan will face both teams again on Saturday, first playing Bucknell at 12:30 pm (9:30 am Pacific) and then Saint Mary's at 5:30 pm (2:30 pm Pacific).