Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - After playing its first 11 games in the Florida sunshine, the Manhattan College softball team finally played in front of its home fans for the first time in 2010 on Thursday afternoon. The Lady Jaspers (6-7) dropped the opener of the doubleheader with Army (9-7), 4-2, before rebounding to post a 3-0 victory in the nightcap at Gaelic Park.
In game one, the Lady Jaspers struck early, putting a run on the board in the bottom of the first. Melissa Donnelly (Long Beach, N.Y.) got the inning started with a leadoff single, and Manhattan took a 1-0 lead when Jaci Rahey (West Milford, N.J.) ripped an RBI single to right.
Erika Sullivan (Bay Shore, N.Y.), who threw a 1-0 shutout against the Black Knights last week during the Rebel Spring Games, ran her streak to 18.2 consecutive scoreless innings before Army finally broke through with a run in the top of the fourth. The rally started on Erin McClain's single, then, following a sacrifice bunt and a base hit, she came around on a fielder's choice to tie the game. The Black Knights took a 2-1 lead on Jennae Tomlinson's solo home run in the fifth, then extended their advantage to 3-1 on back-to-back doubles by McClain and Alexis AuBuchon in the top of the sixth.
The Lady Jaspers rallied in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with one out for pinch hitter Amanda Berrios (Carteret, N.J.). Berrios sent what looked like a double play ball to short, but Army shortstop Clara Navarro made a bad throw to second and everybody was safe, pulling Manhattan within one at 3-2. However, Army pitcher Jessi Muckelroy got a pair of ground balls to end the threat and end the inning. The Black Knights added an unearned run in the top of the seventh, and Muckelroy set the Lady Jaspers down in order in the bottom half of the inning to finish off a 4-2 Army victory.
Donnelly was the only Manhattan player with two hits in game one, going 2-for-4. Kristina Walraven (Thompson Ridge, N.Y.) was 1-for-4 with a run scored, while Rahey went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Sullivan (4-2) suffered her first loss since the season-opening game after giving up three runs on eight hits and striking out three in six innings. Ashley Rampino (Manalapan, N.J.) pitched the seventh and gave up an unearned run. She struck out one and walked one.
McClain and AuBuchon both had two hits for the Black Knights, as Army outhit Manhattan 8-6. AuBuchon went 2-for-2 with an RBI, while McClain was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Tomlinson also scored twice. Muckelroy (4-3) went the distance in the circle, surrendering two runs on six hits, striking out two and walking three.
The Lady Jaspers again jumped ahead early in game two, putting a run on the board in the bottom of the second. Walraven, who was moved down to seventh in the lineup for this game, got the rally started when she was hit by a pitch. Jocelin Whitmore (La Habra, Calif.) followed with a double up the middle that knocked in Walraven and gave Manhattan a 1-0 lead. Manhattan added two more runs in the third. Donnelly started the inning with a single, then moved to third on Nicole Michel's (Massapequa, N.Y.) double. Rahey then lifted a sacrifice fly to left to bring in a run. After Melissa Cascio (Kings Park, N.Y.) singled, Michel came across on a throwing error.
Meanwhile, Donnelly was having no issues in the circle for the Lady Jaspers. She scattered five hits, but only had two base runners on in one inning once-in the top of the third. In the third, a two-base error gave the Black Knights runners on second and third with two down and a chance to take the lead, but Rachael Duval flied to left to end the inning. Donnelly had no problem after that, not allowing a runner past second base the rest of the way. She struck out Navarro to end the game. The 3-0 shutout was Donnelly's first of the season and Manhattan's fourth in just 13 games.
Donnelly (2-1) tossed a complete game five-hitter and struck out three without allowing a walk. She also helped herself at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Walraven was 1-for-1 with a run scored, while Rahey went 1-for-1 with an RBI.
Five different Army players had a hit in the game, as Donnelly faced just six hitters more than the minimum. Beverly Nordin (2-3) started in the circle and took the loss. She surrendered three runs (two earned) and seven hits while striking out two in 2.2 innings of work. Shawna Bleyl got out of the third, then shut the Lady Jaspers down the rest of the way. Bleyl yielded just one hit and two walks while striking out three in 3.1 innings of shutout relief.
Manhattan is back in action on Sunday afternoon, when the Lady Jaspers make the short trip to Columbia (4-12) for a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The Lady Jaspers and Lions met on March 14 in Florida, with Manhattan posting a 7-3 victory.
