Albany Tops Manhattan Twice at Rebel Spring Games

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score 

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - While the New York area was getting hit with a mid-March snowstorm, the Manhattan College softball team was enjoying the Florida sunshine at the Rebel Spring Games.  The Jaspers opened the tournament with a doubleheader against Albany on Monday.  However, the Great Danes (10-7) came away with a pair of victories, topping Manhattan (5-9) by a 5-2 margin in the first game, then recording a 14-6 triumph in game two at the Osceola County Sports Complex.

Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.) belted a solo home run in the first inning of game one, but Albany tied the score with a tally in the top of the third.  The Great Danes then took the lead with a three-spot in the fourth.  After an RBI single by Kelly Costello, Vicky McFarland ripped a two-run homer to center field that put Albany in front 4-1.  Albany added an unearned tally in the sixth before Amanda Paxson (Cedar Grove, N.J.) roped an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh for Manhattan, making the final score 5-2.

The Jaspers were limited to four hits in the contest.  In addition to Bowen's homer and Paxson's double, Anna Gallacher (New Fairfield, Conn.) and Andi Stallard (Katy, Texas) recorded singles.  Bowen (3-2) took the loss after yielding four runs (three earned) on six hits in four innings in the circle.  She also struck out three and walked two.  Erin Hamm (Collegeville, Pa.) tossed three innings of relief, surrendering just three hits and one unearned run while striking out four.

McFarland, Costello and Lauren Alcorn each had a multi-hit effort for the Great Danes, as Albany collected nine hits as a team.  Costello went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI, while McFarland was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs.  Brittany MacFawn (5-5) allowed two runs on four hits, struck out 10 and walked one in a complete game effort.

Manhattan was the visiting team in game two, and the Jaspers quickly jumped on the board with a three-spot in the top of the first.  Bowen got the rally started with a two-out single, and Elena Bowman (San Mateo, Calif.) followed with a walk.  Babcock then delivered an RBI single to center field.  After Paxson was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Stallard connected on a single to left field that drove in a pair and gave the Jaspers a 3-0 advantage.

Albany got one run back on Charlise Castro's RBI single in the bottom of the first, but the Jaspers immediately countered when Bowen knocked in a run with an infield base hit in the top of the second.  However, the Great Danes responded with three in their half of the second to tie the score.  Alexa Toole ripped a two-run homer to right, and Annie Johnson connected on an RBI single two batters later. 

The Great Danes then went in front, 7-4, on Alcorn's three-run blast in the third, and a three-run shot by Castro highlighted a four-run fifth that increased Albany's lead to 11-4.

In the top of the sixth, Manhattan rallied for a pair of runs.  After Sydney Weedon (Santa Ana, Calif.) singled, Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) crushed her first home run of the season, a two-run blast to left.  The game would end in the bottom of the sixth, though, as McFarland belted a three-run homer to right that made it an eight-run margin, 14-6.

Keller collected three of the Jaspers' nine hits in game two, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs.  Bowen also had two hits, while Stallard was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.  Amy Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) (2-3) started in the circle and took the loss.  She surrendered eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits and struck out three in three innings.  Kelsi Redding (Tucson, Ariz.) went 0.2 innings in relief, giving up two runs, two hits and two walks, while Hamm yielded four runs and five hits while striking out one in two innings of work.

Albany had 17 hits in game two, including four home runs.  Toole was 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs, while McFarland went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three driven in.  Castro also posted a 3-for-4 effort and drove in four runs, and Kylie Apostolina and Alcorn each scored twice.  Alcorn also delivered three RBIs.  Emily Ostrom (5-2) earned the win after allowing six runs on nine hits while striking out four and walking one in six innings of work.