KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Manhattan College softball team had a busy day at the Rebel Spring Games on Monday. In the Lady Jaspers' first game of the day, Erika Sullivan (Bay Shore, N.Y.) tossed a complete game six-hitter in a 1-0 victory over Lafayette (2-3). Manhattan then dropped an 8-5 decision to Akron (7-7) later in the day at the Osceola County Sports Complex. The Lady Jaspers (2-4) concluded their long day by making up a contest against Green Bay that was rained out on Saturday. In that contest, The Phoenix (4-2) jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two innings en route to an 8-2 victory.
A first inning run held up in Manhattan's contest against Lafayette. Melissa Donnelly (Long Beach, N.Y.) got the rally started with a walk. She moved to third on a pair of groundouts, then came across with what turned out to be the game's only run on a single by Carla Velasquez (Miami, Fla.).
After that, the game turned into a pitcher's duel between Sullivan and Kasey Karr. The Lady Jaspers threatened to put another run on the board in the bottom of the fourth, putting runners on second and third with one out before Karr struck out Melissa Cascio (Kings Park, N.Y.) and got Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) to popup to end the inning. Lafayette had second and third situations of its own in both the fourth and sixth innings, but Sullivan was able to get out of the jam each time. She then retired the Leopards in order in the top of the seventh to complete her second career shutout.
Five different Lady Jaspers each had one hit in the game. Velasquez notched the game's only RBI, while Donnelly scored the game's only run. Sullivan (1-1) yielded six hits in the 1-0 shutout. She didn't walk a batter and struck out two.
Stacey Kushner and Kerry Griffin both went 2-for-3 for the Leopards. Karr (2-1) pitched well, but took the loss. She gave up one run on five hits, struck out six and walked two.
Against Akron, the Lady Jaspers took an early lead on Jaci Rahey's (West Milford, N.J.) first-inning, two-run home run, but the Zips responded with a five-spot in the bottom of the second. The big blow in the inning was an RBI double by Alex Feltes. Ashley Rampino (Manalapan, N.J.) got one of the runs back with a solo homer in the top of the third.
After Akron added a run in its half of the third, Manhattan put together a two-run rally in the top of the fourth. Kelly Murray (Leominster, Mass.) reached on an infield single to open the inning and chase Akron starter Heather Bauer. Monica Evangelista (Cedar Grove, N.J.) followed with a double to give the Lady Jaspers runners on second and third with nobody out. Cascio grounded to first for the first out of the inning, then pinch hitter Amanda Berrios (Carteret, N.J.) sent a grounder to short that was deep enough for both runners to advance. The next batter was Sullivan, who ripped an RBI single to make it 6-5. The Zips scored twice in the fifth to increase their advantage to 8-5, and reliever Alex Reideman allowed just two Manhattan base runners over the final three frames, helping Akron hold on for the victory.
Rahey went 2-for-3 to pace the Manhattan offense against Akron. Rampino scored two runs, including her first homer of the season. She also got the start in the circle and lasted 5.2 innings. Rampino (0-2) took the loss after surrendering eight runs and 10 hits. She struck out one and walked five. Sullivan came in to get the final out in the bottom of the sixth.
For the Zips, Sarah Earley went 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Allison Dorr had a 2-for-2 day with a pair of runs scored, while Feltes and Alissa Birkhimer both added two hits. Bauer tossed three innings in the circle and gave up four runs on four hits while striking out two and walking one. Reideman (1-0) earned the win with four solid innings of relief. She gave up one run on three hits and struck out one.
Against Green Bay, Manhattan took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Kristina Walraven (Thompson Ridge, N.Y.) came across on Rahey's RBI double. That lead didn't last long, however, as Sara Junion hit a two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning to put the Phoenix in front. Green Bay increased its lead to 5-1 with a three-spot in the bottom of the second. After Melani Niederer ripped an RBI single, Krissy Hanson belted a two-run double to cap the rally.
The Lady Jaspers got one of the runs back in the top of the sixth. Evangelista got the inning started with a double. She then scored on Cascio's RBI single. Manhattan had a chance for more, as Keller and Jocelin Whitmore (La Habra, Calif.) both singled to load the bases with nobody out. However, Donnelly followed with a line drive directly to Junion at shortstop, and she stepped on second to retire Keller and complete the double play. Walraven then flied to center to end the inning, and the Lady Jaspers had to settle for one.
Green Bay then put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. After Donnelly quickly got the first two outs, Niederer and Hanson both singled. Junion was up next, and she belted a three-run homer to make it 8-2. Katie Cooney followed with a single before Alli Rivera popped up to end the inning. Manhattan then went down in order in the top of the seventh.
Evangelista and Keller both had two hits against Green Bay. Evangelista was 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Keller went 2-for-2. Overall, Manhattan had eight hits in the game. Donnelly (1-1) got the start in the circle and went the distance. She gave up eight runs on eight hits, struck out five and walked five in six innings.
The top four hitters in the Phoenix lineup-Niederer, Hansen, Junion and Cooney, accounted for all eight of Green Bay's hits, each collecting two. Niederer, Hansen and Junion all scored two runs, while Hansen had two RBIs and Junion drove in five on the two homers. Lauren Beres (2-0) lasted five-plus innings in the circle and surrendered two runs on eight hits while striking out four and walking two. Tierany Planasch came in during Manhattan's sixth-inning rally and shut the door, giving up just a hit in two scoreless innings to pick up the save.
Manhattan and Lafayette will meet again on Monday at 9 a.m. The Lady Jaspers then take on Colgate (8-2) for the second time at 11 a.m. On Saturday night, Manhattan opened its season with a 7-4 loss to the Raiders.