San Jose State Tops Jaspers

San Jose, CA - Manhattan softball wrapped up its 2019 California trip at San Jose State Tuesday, losing both games of the doubleheader to the Spartans. Despite the losses, senior Lauren Pitney (Ansonia, CT / St. Joseph's) put together a spectacular performance at the plate, with five hits in seven at bats for a slugging percentage of 1.143 and an on-base percentage of .778 over the two games. 

The Jaspers move to 8-10 on the year. 

Game 1: SJSU 9, Manhattan 2

• The Jaspers held the lead for the majority of game one Tuesday, up 2-1 into the bottom of the sixth inning. 
• Annie Moore (Northidge, CA / El Camino Real) nabbed the first RBI of the day, driving in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field in the first inning. 
• After San Jose State tied the game in the second, Adriana Gambino (Stamford, CT / Westhill) singled through to the right side in the fourth, putting the Jaspers ahead 2-1 as a run scored on a throwing error from right field. 
• Makayla Englestad started off the sixth with a triple to right center for the Spartans. She then scored when teammate Arianna Miranda singled to center, tying the game at two all. 
• Jessie Rising (Little Egg Harbor, NJ / Pinelands) entered the game in the inning to relieve starter Stephanie Kristo (San Jose, CA / Archbishop Mitty). But Rising was unable to tame the Spartans, loading the bases before a walk drove in the go-ahead run. 
• Kristo returned to the game for Rising, letting up four more runs on two hits. Manhattan's third pitcher of the game, Kayla McDermott (Garnerville, NY / North Rockland) then relieved Kristo, facing five batters and allowing two more runs before the Jaspers got out of the inning down 9-2. 
• Manhattan put two runners on in the top of the seventh, including Pitney in scoring position. But the Spartans nabbed the final out of the game on a fielder's choice to second base.
• Kristo earned the loss, falling to 4-3 on the season. 

Game 2: SJSU 8, Manhattan 6

• The Jaspers struck first again in game two, when Kat Prevo (San Diego, CA / Our Lady of Peace) singled down the left field line in the first to drive in two runs.
• San Jose State got itself on the board in the second when Kaelin Amrein tripled to right field for an RBI. The next batter, Alyssa Graham, then homered to center field for two more, giving the Spartans a 3-2 lead.
• Moore tied the game in the top of the fourth, singling to left field with two runners on. Teammate Victoria Alonso (Stony Point, NY / North Rockland) then put Manhattan ahead in the fifth, singling to right field for an RBI and a 4-3 advantage.
• The Spartans tied the game at four in the bottom of the inning, but the score wasn't even for long. The next batter, Amrein, tripled for the second time in the game to drive in three runs and score herself after an error at short. Rising came in to pitch for the final out of the fifth, but the Jaspers went into their next at bat down 8-4.
• With the score unchanged in the top of the seventh, Pitney tripled (her first of the season) to drive in two runs with one out left for Manhattan. Her two RBI closed the gap to 8-6, but the run was ended on the next at bat, as Moore lined out to first base.
• McDermott picked up the loss. She is now 2-4 this year.

Up Next:
Manhattan returns to Gaelic Park on Thursday, March 21 for a single game against Seton Hall starting at 3:00 pm.