YOUNGSVILLE, La. – The 2023 softball season opened for Manhattan with a pair of defeats to Southeastern Louisiana and Louisiana Tech on the first day of the Mardi Gras Mambo.
Game 1 – Southeastern Louisiana 10, Manhattan 0 (5 innings)
Southeastern Louisiana did not waste any time scoring against Manhattan. The Lions scored five in the first and five more in the second.
A sacrifice fly and a stolen base gave the Lions the first two runs before an RBI single from Bailey Krolczyk, and a home run by Maddie Watson made it 5-0.
In the home half of the second, Maddie Leal provided the breakthrough hit with a bases-clearing double to left-center to make it 10-0.
For the Jaspers,
Tajiana Pickett and
Anissa Villalobos had the only two hits.
Lindsey Hoag reached base in the top of the first and stole second before being stranded at third when the side was retired.
Marika Deemer started for the Jaspers and was tagged with the loss after allowing nine earned runs over 1.2 innings. Three Lions pitchers combined for the two-hitter.
Game 2 – Louisiana Tech 10, Manhattan 2 (5 innings)
The second game of the day started much better for Manhattan. After falling behind 1-0, the Jaspers scored in the second and third innings to take a 2-1 lead.
Lindsey Hoag belted her first career homer to tie the score in the second. Hoag took a 2-1 pitch from Emma Hutchinson and deposited it over the left-field fence. In the third,
Marika Deemer took off for second base to allow
Gabriella Mazzotta to score.
In the bottom of the third, the Bulldogs quickly responded with six runs. Louisiana Tech had an RBI double, triple, and single to take a 5-2 lead. After a Manhattan pitching change, the Bulldogs scored on an error and then a bases-loaded walk to take a 7-2 lead.
Neither side scored in the fourth before Louisiana Tech tacked on three in the bottom of the fifth. A double, sacrifice fly and a single brought home the three runs needed to pick up the win.
Brooke Diaz had three RBI for the Bulldogs. Amanda Gonzalez scored three times and drove in a pair, too, for Louisiana Tech.
The Jaspers return to action Saturday for two more games down in Youngsville. Manhattan will face Northwestern State (La.) and Houston Christian at 4 and 6 p.m. eastern.
For the latest on the Manhattan College softball program, follow the Jaspers on Twitter and Instagram @JaspersSoftball.
