Offensive Explosion Delivers Two Manhattan Wins

Manhattan-Yale Box Score

Manhattan-Providence Box Score 

STONY BROOK, N.Y. - The Manhattan College softball team's offense came alive on day two of the Stony Brook Invitational.  The Jaspers (5-5) scored a season-high 14 runs in a 14-11 victory over Yale (2-9), then used a three-run rally in the seventh inning to post a 6-4 victory over Providence (7-12) at University Field on Saturday.

Manhattan got on the board early against Yale, putting three runs across in the bottom of the first.  After Emily Cutler (Bloomingdale, N.J.) and Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.) drew walks, Elena Bowman (San Mateo, Calif.) crushed a long three-run blast that was just fair down the left field line to put the Jaspers up 3-0.  However, the Bulldogs countered with a pair of runs in the top of the second, then took the lead on Lauren Delgadillo's two-run homer in the third.

The Jaspers wouldn't trail for long, though, as they recorded a six-spot in the bottom half of the inning.  Jocelin Whitmore (La Habra, Calif.) walked and Bowen was hit by a pitch.  Bowman then smoked a pitch off the top of the wall in right for a long single that loaded the bases.  Amanda Babcock (Haverstraw, N.Y.) followed with a line-drive double to center that knocked in a pair.  Amanda Paxson (Cedar Grove, N.J.) was up next, and she connected on a two-run single to center.  After Andi Stallard (Katy, Texas) singled, Mickayla Romero (Las Vegas, Nev.) delivered a base hit that drove in Paxson.  Stallard moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, then scored on Cutler's sacrifice fly to left field.

Manhattan's offense continued to pour it on, adding three runs in the fourth.  Bowen started the inning with a single, then Bowman was hit by a pitch.  After Paxson walked to load the bases, Stallard connected on a shot just missed clearing the wall in center, going instead for a bases-clearing double that made it 12-4 in favor of the Jaspers.

Yale rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth, getting a solo homer from Sarah Onorato and a two-run shot by Christy Nelson.  However, the Jaspers weren't done yet.  Manhattan scored twice in its half of the inning, as Bowen lifted an RBI double and Bowman knocked in a run on a groundout.  The Jaspers threatened again in the sixth, but left the bases loaded.

Trailing 14-7 in the top of the seventh, the Bulldogs refused to go down quietly, bringing the tying run to the plate.  After two hits and an intentional walk loaded the bases, Nelson sent a two-run single to left that brought Yale within 14-9.  Brittany Labbadia then ripped an RBI single before moving to third on Allie Souza's RBI base hit.  That brought up the tying run with two out, but Kelsi Redding (Tucson, Ariz.) finished off the 14-11 victory when Souza was retired on Jennifer Ong's grounder to short.

Five different Jaspers had two hits in the game, as Manhattan collected 12 base knocks as a team.  Bowman went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and three runs scored, while Bowen was also 2-for-3 with three runs scored.  She also drove in a run.  Stallard finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Paxson knocked in a pair and scored two more.  Cutler and Whitmore also crossed the plate twice each.  Amy Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) (2-1) started in the circle and went 4.1 innings.  She allowed five runs on eight hits, struck out three and walked one to earn the win.  Erin Hamm (Collegeville, Pa.) gave up six runs on five hits while striking out one and walking one in 1.2 innings of relief, while Redding surrendered two hits in one inning of work.

Onorato, Delgadillo and Nelson went a combined 9-for-10 in the middle of the Yale lineup.  Nelson was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBIs, while Delgadillo finished a triple shy of the cycle, going 3-for-3 with four runs scored and two RBIs.  Onorato also scored three times.  The Bulldogs collected 15 hits as a unit.  Chelsey Dunham (1-4) took the loss after giving up nine runs on seven hits and walking three over three innings.  Kylie Williamson tossed the final three innings, surrendering five runs (three earned) and five hits while striking out three and walking two.

Against Providence, Manhattan fell into an early hole when Jessie Bryant crushed a three-run homer in the bottom of the first.  The Jaspers got one back with an unearned tally in the top of the second.  Paxson started the inning with a single and Stallard followed with a double to left.  However, the Providence left fielder overran the ball, allowing Paxson to score.

The Friars picked up an unearned run of their own in the bottom of the third.  Shannelle Harrell was hit by a pitch with two out and moved to second on Kristie Dederick's walk.  Bryant was up next, and she delivered a single to left field.  Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) mishandled the ground ball and the runners turned.  Manhattan got the out at third to end the inning, but not before Harrell crossed the plate.

Manhattan began its comeback in earnest in the top of the fifth.  Bowman smacked a double off the top of the wall in right and Babcock followed with a long home run to right center that brought the Jaspers within 4-3.  After a scoreless sixth, the Jaspers rallied to take the lead in the top of the seventh.  With two down, Bowen just missed what would've been a game-tying shot, smashing a double off the top of the wall in right center.  Despite first base being open, Providence chose to pitch to Bowman, and she made the Friars pay, smashing a long ball to deep center field that put the Jaspers in front.  Babcock followed with her second home run of the game, a solo shot to left that made it 6-4.

After Bowen retired the first two Providence hitters in the bottom of the seventh, Marie Flego reached on an error to keep the Friars alive.  Kiara Baldassari followed with a ground ball to second, but Flego beat the throw to second, putting the tying run on base.  Flego was retired on a fielder's choice by Megan Rollings, and Harrell then grounded to first to end the game.

Bowen, Bowman and Babcock combined for six of the Jaspers' 10 hits and all five RBIs.  Bowman was 2-for-3 with her two-run homer, while Babcock crushed a pair of homers to finish 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs.  Bowen went 2-for-4 with a run scored and was also the winning pitcher in the game.  She tossed a complete game, yielding four runs (three earned) and five hits.  Bowen (3-1) struck out two and walked two.

Bryant and Dederick each went 2-for-2 with a run scored for the Friars.  Bryant also had all three of Providence's RBIs in the game.  Kiara Amos (4-8) took the loss after giving up six runs (five earned) on 10 hits while striking out three and walking two in a complete-game effort.