Baltimore, MD - Manhattan softball's
Annie Moore (Northridge, CA / El Camino Real) went 5-7 over two games Saturday, earning a double, triple, and home run on her way to four RBI on the day for the Jaspers, who defeated the University of Maryland Eastern Shore 9-0 in five innings before falling in a 2-1 decision to host Morgan State in game two.
Manhattan moves to 4-6 overall this season.
Manhattan 9, UMES 0
Moore went 2-3 and earned three of her four RBI in game one on Saturday. She kicked-off the Jasper offense with a double in the first inning that quickly gave the Jaspers the 1-0 advantage in the game. Also picking up RBI in the first stanza were
Kaitlyn Flood (Southbury, CT / Pomperaug),
Adriana Gambino (Stamford, CT / Westhill) and
Morgan Sgarlata (Oneida, NY / Herkimer CC), making it 4-0 Jaspers before the first inning was through.
Moore remained on fire in the second inning, hitting a home run to left center for two more RBI. Gambino followed with an RBI double, as well, helping the Jaspers to a five-run inning and a 9-0 lead through just two at bats.
Jessie Rising (Little Egg Harbor, NJ / Pinelands) got the start in the pitcher's circle against UMES, pitching four innings and striking out three of 14 batters faced. She was relieved by
Marika Deemer (Perrysburg, OH / Perrysburg), who earned two strikeouts in just four batters faced. Rising (3-0) got the win for the Jaspers.
Morgan State 2, Manhattan 1
The Bears got on the board early in game two, sparked by a double from Jalian Young who would later advance to third on an error, then score Morgan State's first run on a single from teammate Haylee Bobos.
Trailing by one in the top of the third inning, Moore smacked a triple to right center for her fourth RBI on the day to tie the game. The tie would hold until the bottom of the fifth, when Young scored on a double from Ellen Ebbers. Starting pitcher
Nicole Williams (Ansonia, CT / St. Joseph's) then intentionally walked Bobos to set up the potential force out, and the Jasper defense followed suit, getting Ebbers in a fielder's choice at third before Williams struck out Amy Pacheco to get out of the inning.
Sgarlata walked to start the sixth inning, but
Emma Kindblom (Wilbraham, MA / Wilbraham & Monson Academy) popped up for the first out, before
Kylie Carr (Andover, NJ / Immaculate Heart Academy) hit into a double play to end the Jasper turn at the plate.
Williams sat down three-straight batters in the bottom of the sixth to quickly put the Jaspers backing on offense with the chance to extend the game. With one out,
Christine Gebhardt (Middletown, NJ / Middletown North) singled up the middle to get on. Another out later, Moore singled through the right side to advance Gebhardt to scoring position. But on the next at bat, Flood grounded to third for the Gebhardt force out to end the game.
Williams (0-2) went six innings with seven strikeouts. She let up just four hits.
Up Next:
Manhattan will again play both opponents on Sunday, starting with a second match-up against UMES at 10:00 am. The Jaspers will then face Morgan State at noon.
