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RIVERDALE, N.Y. - On Tuesday afternoon, the Manhattan College softball team (9-14) split a doubleheader with Columbia (8-15) at Gaelic Park. Behind a three-run homer from Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.), the Lady Jaspers captured a 3-1 victory in the first game before dropping a 4-1 decision in game two.
Columbia struck early with a first-inning run in game one. Emily Snodgrass singled up the middle to start the game, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a double by Karen Tulig. After Anne Marie Skylis walked, Maggie Johnson beat out a bunt down the third base line to load the bases with one out. However, Ashley Rampino (Manalapan, N.J.) got out of the jam when Stephanie Yagi struck out looking, then Tristin Moone grounded back to Rampino.
In the bottom of the fourth, Jaci Rahey (West Milford, N.J.) started the Manhattan rally with a single up the middle. After Nicole Michel (Massapequa, N.Y.) reached on an infield single, Bowen gave Manhattan the lead with a long home run to right field.
Rampino retired eight straight Lions after a one-out single by Emily Caruthers in the second until Caruthers came up again leading off the fifth. She started the inning with a single to center, then beat the throw to second when Snodgrass dropped down a bunt and Rampino tried to get the lead out. However, the Columbia rally died when Skylis hit a popup behind third with two down and a runner on third.
The Lions threatened again when their first two batters reached base in the sixth, but Michel turned a brilliant 5-3 double play for the first two outs, then grabbed a popup to end the inning. In the top of the seventh, Michel snagged a line drive that likely would've put the tying run on base to end the game and seal a 3-1 Manhattan win.
Rahey was 2-for-3 in game one, while Bowen's homer accounted for Manhattan's only scoring. Rampino (3-6) went the distance in the circle, giving up one run on seven hits, striking out five and walking one.
The Lions outhit the Lady Jaspers 7-6 in game one, led by a 3-for-3 effort from Caruthers. Johnson went 2-for-3, while Tulig was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Johnson (2-10) took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four and walking one in six innings.
In game two, Columbia stranded eight runners on base through four innings before finally breaking through in the fifth. Skylis connected for a one-out double, then Johnson followed with a two-run homer to left center that gave the Lions a 2-0 lead.
Meghan McDevitt (Nutley, N.J.) broke up a no-hitter with her leadoff single in the bottom of the fifth, and Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) followed with a double off the wall in deep center field that was inches from tying the game. After a groundout, Monica Evangelista (Cedar Grove, N.J.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Rahey was up next, and she drew a walk to knock in a run. However, that's all Manhattan would get, as Michel struck out before Bowen flied to left to end the inning.
After putting runners on second and third with one down in the top of the seventh, Columbia added an insurance tally on Morgan Cook's single to left. The Lions then stole another run when pinch runner Tristin Moone took off from third on Jennifer Bergeron's bunt that landed just fair in front of the plate for an RBI single. The Lady Jaspers were retired in order in the bottom of the seventh, giving Columbia a 4-1 victory, which was Manhattan's first home loss of the season.
Manhattan had just two hits in game two, McDevitt's single and Keller's double. McDevitt also scored the Lady Jaspers' only run. Erika Sullivan (Bay Shore, N.Y.) got the start in the circle and went five innings. Sullivan (4-4) gave up two runs on 10 hits, struck out three and walked one. Bowen tossed the final two innings, surrendering two runs on five hits.
As a team, Columbia had 15 hits in game two, led by Cook's 3-for-3 effort. Five different Lions collected two hits, including Johnson, who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Prophet Gaspard (6-5) tossed a complete game in the circle, allowing one run on two hits while striking out five and walking three.
The Lady Jaspers are back in action on Thursday, when they visit Wagner (1-16) for a 3 p.m. twinbill.
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