KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Manhattan College softball team wrapped up its stint at the Rebel Spring Games on Wednesday afternoon, and unfortunately for the Lady Jaspers, their final two games had a script that was similar to the prior eight. Manhattan (3-9) dropped a pair of one-run decisions at the Osceola County Sports Complex, falling to Colgate (5-7), 6-5 in 10 innings, then losing to Green Bay (6-6) by a 6-5 margin. The Lady Jaspers lost five one-run games on the trip, including three that went to extra innings.
Manhattan got off to a good start against Colgate, putting two runs on the board in the top of the first. Kristina Walraven (Thompson Ridge, N.Y.) and Monica Evangelista (Cedar Grove, N.J.) drew back-to-back walks leading off the game, and they were both knocked home on Nicole Michel's (Massapequa, N.Y.) double down the left field line. The Lady Jaspers added a run in the third when Michel came around on an RBI single by Melissa Donnelly (Long Beach, N.Y.).
Colgate struck back with two runs in the fourth. After a leadoff walk and a single to center, the Raiders trimmed their deficit to 3-2 on a pair of sacrifice flies. The Raiders then added two more in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead. Colgate loaded the bases with two out, then Tera Vaughn roped a two-run single to left center that put the Raiders in front.
The Raiders took that 4-3 advantage into the seventh inning, when Jaci Rahey (West Milford, N.J.) crushed a solo home run to right center that tied the game. Colgate went down in order in the bottom of the seventh, sending the Lady Jaspers into extra innings for the third time in five games.
Manhattan went in front 5-4 when Kelly Murray (Leominster, Mass.) drove in Donnelly with a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth, but Vaughn knocked an RBI single in Colgate's half of the inning to tie the score again. After the Lady Jaspers were retired in the top of the ninth, Colgate loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half of the inning. However, Ashley Rampino (Manalapan, N.J.) struck out Jennifer Martin, then induced an Alana Dyson groundout to extend the game. However, after Manhattan failed to score again in the 10th, Colgate earned the victory when Vaughn uncorked an RBI single to center.
Michel and Erika Sullivan (Bay Shore, N.Y.) each had two of the Lady Jaspers' eight hits. Michel went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Sullivan was 2-for-4. Donnelly got the start in the circle and went the first 4.2 innings. She gave up four runs on four hits, struck out three and walked two. Despite allowing just two unearned runs and two hits in 4.2 innings, Rampino took the loss. She also struck out two and walked two.
For the Raiders, Vaughn went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and a run scored. Dyson scored three runs for Colgate. Courtney O'Connell started in the circle and lasted three innings. She yielded three runs (two earned) on four hits, struck out one and walked three. Michelle Hollebeke gave up just one hit and struck out three in two scoreless innings of relief, while Rachel LeCoq (5-2) tossed the final five innings and earned the win. LeCoq surrendered two runs (one earned) on three hits, struck out four and walked two.
The Lady Jaspers jumped out to an early lead again in the contest with Green Bay, plating four runs in the bottom of the first. After a leadoff single by Bowen, she scored via the benefit of three consecutive walks. Sullivan followed with a two-run double to make it 3-0. The lead reached 4-0 when Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) roped a single to left field that knocked in Donnelly, but Sullivan was thrown out trying to score from second on the play to end the inning.
Green Bay responded with a run in the top of the second, then cut its deficit to 4-2 on Sara Junion's RBI single in the fifth. In the top of the sixth, the first four Green Bay hitters all walked, moving the Phoenix within one at 4-3. With one down, Junion lifted a sacrifice fly to right that tied the game. Another run came across on a throwing error, then Amanda Omahen's RBI single gave the Phoenix a 6-4 lead.
After going down in order in the bottom of the sixth, the Lady Jaspers rallied in the bottom of the seventh. Melissa Cascio (Kings Park, N.Y.) started the inning with a home run, then Michel reached on an error. Pinch runner Michelle Roemer (Ardsley, N.Y.) moved to second on a groundout and Rampino followed with a walk to put the winning run on first with only one out. Walraven was then called upon as a pinch hitter, and she hit a shot down the third base line. However, the ball was hit too hard, as the Green Bay third baseman stepped on the bag, then had time to throw to second and complete the game-ending double play.
Sullivan and Keller both went 2-for-3 at the plate against Green Bay, and Sullivan added two RBIs. She also tossed four innings in the circle after the starter Bowen had to come out of the game with an injury. Sullivan gave up two runs on five hits, struck out one and walked three. Rampino (1-5) relieved her in the sixth and took the loss.
Jessica Hrncar had a perfect afternoon in the nine-spot for the Phoenix, going 2-for-2 with a walk, two RBIs and two runs scored. Junion also recorded two hits and two RBIs, while Danielle Peerenboom scored a pair of runs. Tieraney Planasch (3-1) hurled a complete game, yielding five runs on nine hits while striking out three and walking four.
The Lady Jaspers head back north on Thursday, but have a quick turnaround before returning to action. On Friday, Manhattan plays its first two games at the three-day Seton Hall Pirate Classic. The Lady Jaspers play Lafayette (1-13) at 11:30 a.m. and take on host Seton Hall (7-11) at 4:30 p.m.KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Manhattan College softball team wrapped up its stint at the Rebel Spring Games on Wednesday afternoon, and unfortunately for the Lady Jaspers, their final two games had a script that was similar to the prior eight. Manhattan (3-9) dropped a pair of one-run decisions at the Osceola County Sports Complex, falling to Colgate (5-7), 6-5 in 10 innings, then losing to Green Bay (6-6) by a 6-5 margin. The Lady Jaspers lost five one-run games on the trip, including three that went to extra innings.
Manhattan got off to a good start against Colgate, putting two runs on the board in the top of the first. Kristina Walraven (Thompson Ridge, N.Y.) and Monica Evangelista (Cedar Grove, N.J.) drew back-to-back walks leading off the game, and they were both knocked home on Nicole Michel's (Massapequa, N.Y.) double down the left field line. The Lady Jaspers added a run in the third when Michel came around on an RBI single by Melissa Donnelly (Long Beach, N.Y.).
Colgate struck back with two runs in the fourth. After a leadoff walk and a single to center, the Raiders trimmed their deficit to 3-2 on a pair of sacrifice flies. The Raiders then added two more in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead. Colgate loaded the bases with two out, then Tera Vaughn roped a two-run single to left center that put the Raiders in front.
The Raiders took that 4-3 advantage into the seventh inning, when Jaci Rahey (West Milford, N.J.) crushed a solo home run to right center that tied the game. Colgate went down in order in the bottom of the seventh, sending the Lady Jaspers into extra innings for the third time in five games.
Manhattan went in front 5-4 when Kelly Murray (Leominster, Mass.) drove in Donnelly with a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth, but Vaughn knocked an RBI single in Colgate's half of the inning to tie the score again. After the Lady Jaspers were retired in the top of the ninth, Colgate loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half of the inning. However, Ashley Rampino (Manalapan, N.J.) struck out Jennifer Martin, then induced an Alana Dyson groundout to extend the game. However, after Manhattan failed to score again in the 10th, Colgate earned the victory when Vaughn uncorked an RBI single to center.
Michel and Erika Sullivan (Bay Shore, N.Y.) each had two of the Lady Jaspers' eight hits. Michel went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Sullivan was 2-for-4. Donnelly got the start in the circle and went the first 4.2 innings. She gave up four runs on four hits, struck out three and walked two. Despite allowing just two unearned runs and two hits in 4.2 innings, Rampino took the loss. She also struck out two and walked two.
For the Raiders, Vaughn went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and a run scored. Dyson scored three runs for Colgate. Courtney O'Connell started in the circle and lasted three innings. She yielded three runs (two earned) on four hits, struck out one and walked three. Michelle Hollebeke gave up just one hit and struck out three in two scoreless innings of relief, while Rachel LeCoq (5-2) tossed the final five innings and earned the win. LeCoq surrendered two runs (one earned) on three hits, struck out four and walked two.
The Lady Jaspers jumped out to an early lead again in the contest with Green Bay, plating four runs in the bottom of the first. After a leadoff single by Bowen, she scored via the benefit of three consecutive walks. Sullivan followed with a two-run double to make it 3-0. The lead reached 4-0 when Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) roped a single to left field that knocked in Donnelly, but Sullivan was thrown out trying to score from second on the play to end the inning.
Green Bay responded with a run in the top of the second, then cut its deficit to 4-2 on Sara Junion's RBI single in the fifth. In the top of the sixth, the first four Green Bay hitters all walked, moving the Phoenix within one at 4-3. With one down, Junion lifted a sacrifice fly to right that tied the game. Another run came across on a throwing error, then Amanda Omahen's RBI single gave the Phoenix a 6-4 lead.
After going down in order in the bottom of the sixth, the Lady Jaspers rallied in the bottom of the seventh. Melissa Cascio (Kings Park, N.Y.) started the inning with a home run, then Michel reached on an error. Pinch runner Michelle Roemer (Ardsley, N.Y.) moved to second on a groundout and Rampino followed with a walk to put the winning run on first with only one out. Walraven was then called upon as a pinch hitter, and she hit a shot down the third base line. However, the ball was hit too hard, as the Green Bay third baseman stepped on the bag, then had time to throw to second and complete the game-ending double play.
Sullivan and Keller both went 2-for-3 at the plate against Green Bay, and Sullivan added two RBIs. She also tossed four innings in the circle after the starter Bowen had to come out of the game with an injury. Sullivan gave up two runs on five hits, struck out one and walked three. Rampino (1-5) relieved her in the sixth and took the loss.
Jessica Hrncar had a perfect afternoon in the nine-spot for the Phoenix, going 2-for-2 with a walk, two RBIs and two runs scored. Junion also recorded two hits and two RBIs, while Danielle Peerenboom scored a pair of runs. Tieraney Planasch (3-1) hurled a complete game, yielding five runs on nine hits while striking out three and walking four.
The Lady Jaspers head back north on Thursday, but have a quick turnaround before returning to action. On Friday, Manhattan plays its first two games at the three-day Seton Hall Pirate Classic. The Lady Jaspers play Lafayette (1-13) at 11:30 a.m. and take on host Seton Hall (7-11) at 4:30 p.m.
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