Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
Click here to view the 2012 Manhattan Softball Yearbook
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - In a doubleheader that was postponed a day because of rain, the Manhattan College softball team took on two-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) champion Iona on Monday. Unfortunately, the Jaspers (6-29, 1-7 MAAC) were able to muster just four hits in the two games, as the Gaels (25-20, 7-3 MAAC) posted 7-0 and 3-1 wins at Gaelic Park.
After Iona took the lead on Deanne Algeo's RBI double in the first inning of game one, the Gaels broke it open with a six-spot in the top of the fourth. Chelsea Sheehan and Alyssa Maiese each recorded a two-run double during the rally.
Iona pitcher Sarah Jackson, the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, no-hit the Jaspers thru six innings before Amanda Babcock (Haverstraw, N.Y.) ripped a clean single to right leading off the bottom of the seventh. Jackson (12-9) allowed just two base runners, Babcock's single and a walk to Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) in the second inning. She also registered 10 strikeouts.
The Gaels collected eight hits in game one, with Algeo going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Sheehan was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Maiese went 1-for-2, drove in two runs, and scored another.
Kelsi Redding (Tucson, Ariz.) (2-10) took the loss for the Jaspers after yielding seven runs (six earned) on eight hits while striking out two and walking seven over seven innings.
Game two was scoreless thru three innings before Iona took advantage of Manhattan miscues in the fourth. Eileen McCann reached on an error to start the inning, then Maiese belted a home run to center field to give the Gaels a 2-0 lead. Sheehan doubled with two out, and she came across on another Manhattan error. Iona eventually loaded the bases on back-to-back walks, but Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.) got out of the inning when Allison Hand flied to right.
Despite having a runner on base in every inning, Manhattan didn't break through against Maiese until the seventh. Sydney Weedon (Santa Ana, Calif.) led off the inning with a single to center (just the Jaspers' second hit of the game), and Keller followed with a base hit up the middle. After the runners moved up on Heather Leone's (Brick, N.J.) fly ball, Jocelin Whitmore (La Habra, Calif.) drew a walk, putting the tying run on base with one out. Manhattan then got on the board when Babcock walked. However, Bowen followed with a grounder to third, and the Gaels turned a double play to end the game.
Mickayla Romero (Las Vegas, Nev.) went 1-for-2 on game two, reaching base on a single and a walk. Babcock had the Jaspers' only RBI, while Amanda Berrios (Carteret, N.J.), who had pinch run for Weedon in the seventh, scored the lone Manhattan run. Bowen (3-9) pitched well in defeat, allowing only one earned run (three overall) on six hits while striking out three and walking four in a complete-game effort.
In addition to going 2-for-3 with a two-run homer at the plate, Maiese (12-9) earned the win in the circle for the Gaels. She gave up one run on three hits, struck out nine and walked five.
Manhattan hits the road for a non-conference twinbill against Fairleigh Dickinson (25-18) at 3 p.m. on Wednesday. The Jaspers and Knights met on March 11 during the Rebel Spring Games, with FDU notching a 6-1 victory.
