Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
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RIVERDALE, N.Y. - One day after being rained out at Columbia, the Manhattan College softball team played through the raindrops on Wednesday. The Jaspers (8-35) hosted Wagner (18-34) at Gaelic Park in their final non-conference doubleheader of the season. After dropping the first game by an 8-1 count, Manhattan suffered a 2-1 defeat in the nightcap, which was played under the lights and clear skies.
Wagner took an early lead in game one, putting a run on the board in the top of the first. The Seahawks increased their advantage to 3-0 on Kelsey Parker's two-run homer in the top of the third. Wagner then added three runs in the top of the fourth to make it 6-0.
Manhattan recorded its only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth. Amanda Babcock (Haverstraw, N.Y.) and Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.) drew back-to-back two-out walks before Meghan McDevitt (Nutley, N.J.) delivered an infield single that knocked in Babcock and got the Jaspers on the board. Wagner finished off the scoring with a two-spot in the top of the seventh.
Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) and McDevitt had all five of Manhattan's hits in game one. Keller went 3-for-3 with a double, while McDevitt was 2-for-3 while also driving in the Jaspers' only run. Kelsi Redding (Tucson, Ariz.) (4-12) got the start in the circle and took the loss. She allowed six runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings. She also struck out one and walked three. Mickayla Romero (Las Vegas, Nev.) surrendered two runs (one earned) and two hits while striking out one and walking one in 2.1 innings of relief.
The Seahawks had nine hits in the game, with Kristen Matteoni and Jessica Albarran both collecting a pair of hits. Matteoni also scored twice. Parker contributed three RBIs for Wagner. Judy Betz (4-7) tossed a complete game, giving up one run on five hits while striking out five and walking three.
In the first inning of game two, Manhattan scored a run without the benefit of a hit. Jocelin Whitmore (La Habra, Calif.) drew a leadoff walk, then switched places with Babcock on a fielder's choice. After Babcock alertly stole second base before Wagner hurler Olivia Zwick even threw a pitch to Bowen, she moved to third when Bowen grounded out. That extra base proved crucial, as Zwick threw a wild pitch, allowing Babcock to come across with the game's first tally.
It would remain 1-0 until the top of the fourth, when the Seahawks took the lead. Carley Nicoletti dropped down a bunt single to start the rally. After she moved to second on a sacrifice, Matteoni ripped an RBI double to left field that knotted the score at 1-1. Parker followed with a single up the middle to put Wagner in front. Brittany Huss and Albarran added singles, but the Seahawks didn't score, as the inning came to an end when Parker was thrown out at the plate on Albarran's base hit to center.
After leaving two runners on base in the bottom of the fifth, Manhattan rallied again in the sixth. Bowen led off the inning with a single, and Keller followed with a one-out walk. The Jaspers had the tying run on third with two out, but Amanda Paxson (Cedar Grove, N.J.) grounded out to end the inning. The Jaspers put the tying run on base again in the bottom of the seventh, as Carla Velasquez (Miami, Fla.) reached on an error leading off the inning. However, pinch runner Kelly Murray (Leominster, Mass.) was left stranded on second base, and Wagner tallied a 2-1 victory.
Bowen went 2-for-3 in game two. She also took a tough-luck loss after tossing a complete game I the circle. Bowen (3-13) yielded two runs on nine hits, struck out four and walked two.
For the Seahawks, Albarran followed up her two-hit performance in game one by going 3-for-3 in the nightcap. Six other Wagner players had one hit apiece, including Matteoni, who also scored a run and drove in another. Zwick went three-plus innings in the circle. She gave up one run on two hits, struck out three and walked four. Samantha Bedker (8-12) picked up the win after four innings of two-hit shutout relief. She recorded four strikeouts and two walks.
The Jaspers (3-9 MAAC) wrap up their home schedule against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) rival Fairfield (26-24, 8-4 MAAC) at 12 p.m. on Saturday. Seniors Amanda Berrios (Carteret, N.J.), Murray and Velasquez will be recognized prior to the doubleheader.
