Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - On Saturday afternoon at Gaelic Park, the Manhattan College softball team was victimized by the long ball. Iona hit a total of eight home runs in the two games, including three each by Jodi Petersen and Eileen McCann, as the Gaels swept the first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheader of the season for each team. Iona (13-14, 2-0 MAAC) won the first game by an 8-1 count, then notched a 7-4 victory over the Lady Jaspers (9-13, 0-2 MAAC) in game two.
Tessa Earley hit the Gaels' first home run of the day leading off game one. Petersen then doubled the Iona lead with a leadoff blast in the fourth. Melissa Donnelly (Long Beach, N.Y.) started the bottom of the fourth with an infield single, then Jaci Rahey (West Milford, N.J.) sent a screeching double to left that put runners on second and third with nobody out. After Kelly Murray (Leominster, Mass.) struck out, Monica Evangelista (Cedar Grove, N.J.) reached on a bunt single to load the bases. However, Iona starter Sarah Jackson struck out the next two Lady Jaspers hitters to end the threat and keep the Gaels in front 2-0.
Petersen and McCann hit back-to-back homers to open the sixth inning, as the Gaels broke the game open with a four-spot in the frame. McCann went deep again leading off the seventh, and Melanie Gettins added an RBI double that pushed the Gaels' advantage to 8-0. The Lady Jaspers avoided the shutout when Evangelista tripled leading off the bottom of the seventh, then came across on a wild pitch. However, Manhattan was unable to put a rally together, and Jackson struck out Kristina Walraven (Thompson Ridge, N.Y.) to wrap-up Iona's 8-1 triumph.
The Lady Jaspers managed six hits off Jackson, as Rahey and Evangelista each went 2-for-3 at the plate in game one. Donnelly (2-4) got the start in the circle and took the loss. She gave up six runs on eight hits, struck out four and walked one in 5.1 innings. Ashley Rampino (Manalapan, N.J.) pitched the final 1.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three and walking four.
Petersen ended up 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while McCann was 2-for-3 and Allyssa James went 2-for-4 with a run scored for the Gaels. Overall, Iona had 11 hits in the game, including five solo home runs. Jackson (8-4) struck out 10 and walked just one. She surrendered only six hits and one run to earn the win.
It was Manhattan that jumped out to the early lead in game two, as Rahey belted a long three-run to right in the bottom of the first inning. The Lady Jaspers rallied again the bottom of the third, but failed to score. Jocelin Whitmore (La Habra, Calif.) got the inning started with a single to left, then Donnelly followed with a single. After Murray beat out a bunt to load the bases with one out, Whitmore was thrown out trying to score on Evangelista's bouncer to short. Manhattan left the bases juiced when Carla Velasquez (Miami, Fla.) popped up in front of first base.
The Gaels tied the game on Petersen's three-run blast in the top of the fifth, but Manhattan got that run right back in the bottom half of the inning. Donnelly was hit by a pitch, then moved to second on a passed ball. She moved to third on Rahey's groundout and scored to put the Lady Jaspers back in front on Murray's RBI single. The lead was short-lived, however, as James led off the sixth with a shot to center.
After Erika Sullivan (Bay Shore, N.Y.) retired the Gaels in the top of the seventh, the Lady Jaspers had a chance to win in the bottom half of the inning. Whitmore did her part with a leadoff single to right, then moved to second on Donnelly's sacrifice bunt. With first base open, Iona intentionally walked Rahey, giving the Lady Jaspers runners on first and second with one out. However, Manhattan was unable to get the run in, as Murray struck out and Evangelista grounded to third, and the contest went into extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, McCann went yard again, this time a blast down the left field line leading off the inning. Three of the next four Iona hitters doubled, leading to two more runs that gave the Gaels a 7-4 advantage. Amanda Berrios (Carteret, N.J.) slapped a pinch-hit single to open the bottom of the eighth, then Rampino followed with a single. With the tying run now at the plate, Iona summoned Jackson out of the bullpen, and she struck out all three batters she faced to nail down the victory for the Gaels.
Manhattan outhit Iona 11-10 in game two, led by Whitmore's 3-for-4 effort. She also scored a run. Donnelly was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, while Murray went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Sullivan (6-4) took the loss after giving up seven runs and 10 hits in a complete-game effort. She also tallied two strikeouts and walked two.
Petersen was 2-for-4 with three RBIs for Iona, while James went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Chelsea Sheehan also drove in a pair of runs for the Gaels in game two. Three different hurlers pitched in the game for Iona. Deanne Algeo started and went the first two innings. She gave up three runs on four hits and walked two. Alyssa Maiese (4-8) earned the win after surrendering an unearned run and seven hits in five-plus innings. She struck out four and walked two. Jackson earned the save with her three-strikeout outing.
Manhattan concludes its season-long six-game homestand on Tuesday, when Albany (12-12) visits Gaelic Park for a non-conference doubleheader. The twinbill gets underway at 3 p.m.
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