Manhattan-Tennesse-Martin Box Score
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - On its first full day of action at the Rebel Spring Games, the Manhattan College softball team split a pair of contests on Sunday afternoon. On the strength of three home runs, the Lady Jaspers posted their first win of the season with a 7-3 victory over Columbia (0-7) in their first game of the day at the Osceola County Sports Complex. Manhattan (1-2) dropped a 4-0 decision to Tennessee-Martin (14-3) later in the afternoon.
Against Columbia, Manhattan struck early with a run in the top of the first. Melissa Donnelly (Long Beach, N.Y.) roped a leadoff single, moved to third on a pair of groundouts, and scored on Nicole Michel's (Massapequa, N.Y.) RBI single. Columbia got the run right back, however, when Jennifer Bergeron slammed a solo homer to left field.
The Lady Jaspers went back in front with a three-run second inning. With one out, Kelly Murray (Leominster, Mass.) smashed her first career home run, a solo shot to left center. After Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) singled, Donnelly hit a two-run blast to give Manhattan a 4-1 lead. The Lions trimmed their deficit to 4-2 with a run in the bottom of the second, but Jaci Rahey (West Milford, N.J.) belted Manhattan's third home run of the game leading off the third. The Lady Jaspers tacked on another run in the third and one more in the fourth to increase their advantage to 7-2 before surrendering an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth.
Rahey and Michel each went 3-for-3, as the Lady Jaspers pounded 11 hits against Columbia. Michel also drove in a pair. Donnelly went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. She also went the distance in the circle, giving up three runs (two earned) and seven hits while striking out three and walking two to earn the win (1-0).
Christie Taylor and Kayla Lechler both had two of Columbia's seven hits. Taylor was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, while Lechler went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Aimee Kemp (0-2) started in the circle and tossed three innings. She surrendered six runs (five earned) and eight hits, struck out one and walked one. Jessica Rakonza pitched the final four innings, giving up one unearned run on three hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
In their second game of the day, the Lady Jaspers were held to just four hits by Tennessee-Martin starter Kate Vanderham. Vanderham (4-1) struck out four and walked one in the shutout victory.
The Skyhawks provided their starting pitcher with all the offense she needed when Megan Williams ripped an RBI single in the top of the third. Tennessee-Martin added three more runs in the top of the fourth on Jenny Bain's solo home run and a two-run shot by Kalah Mathis.
After getting just two hits off Vanderham over the first six innings, Manhattan put together a rally in the bottom of the seventh. Pinch hitter Murray started the inning with a single to right, then Michel followed with a single to left. Murray moved to third when Carla Velasquez (Miami, Fla.) reached on a fielder's choice, but that's as far as she would advance, as Vanderham got a fly ball and a groundout to preserve the shutout.
Four different Lady Jaspers got hits in the game, including Michel, who went 4-for-6 on the day. Ashley Rampino (Manalapan, N.J.) made her first start of the season in the circle. She took the loss after giving up four runs and 10 hits. Rampino (0-1) also struck out two and walked two.
Williams, Bain and Laurie Lindow all recorded multi-hit games for the Skyhawks. Williams went 3-for-4, while Bain and Lindow both had two hits. As a team, Tennessee-Martin tallied 10 hits.
The Lady Jaspers continue the Rebel Games with a pair of contests on Monday. Manhattan takes on Lafayette (2-2) at 9 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. meeting with Akron (6-6).