RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Trailing by two and down to its final out, the Manhattan College softball team (8-14) scored three times in the bottom of the ninth to post a 9-8 victory in game two of a doubleheader with Columbia (10-10) at Gaelic Park on Tuesday. The Lions took the first game by an 11-1 margin.
After Columbia took an 8-6 lead on Alix Cook's two-run double in the top of the ninth, the Lions got two quick outs to begin the Manhattan half of the inning. Amanda Paxson (Cedar Grove, N.J.) then drew a walk to bring Andi Stallard (Katy, Texas) to the plate as the tying run. Stallard roped her third single of the game, a knock to center field that put runners on first and second for Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.). She sent a sinking line drive to center field and Emily Caruthers tried to make a diving catch. However, the ball went just over her glove for a double, allowing both runners to score, and Keller advanced to third on the throw home. Sydney Weedon (Santa Ana, Calif.) was up next, and she hit a bouncer up the middle that hit pitcher Emily Kenyon's glove, slowing the ball down enough for her to beat shortstop Macy Shrum's throw to first and, more importantly, for Keller to come across with the winning run.
“It was a great comeback,” Head Coach Tom Pardalis said. “We got those two people on, then Jen got that big hit and Sydney got that big hit. We stole that one.”
Manhattan jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, as Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.) reached on an error to open the game and Elena Bowman (San Mateo, Calif.) followed with her team-leading sixth home run of the season, a shot to center field. After Amanda Babcock (Haverstraw, N.Y.) singled, she came home on Stallard's base hit. The Jaspers then extended their cushion to 4-0 in the second inning when Anna Gallacher (New Fairfield, Conn.) ripped a one-out double, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Bowen's sacrifice fly.
The Lions stormed back with four runs in the top of the third. Columbia took a 6-4 lead with a two-spot in the fourth before the Jaspers rallied to tie it with a pair in the bottom of the fifth. Bowman led off the inning with a single up the middle, then Babcock walked. Paxson followed with an RBI single that put runners on the corners with nobody out. After Stallard struck out, the Jaspers tied the game on an unusual sequence where Babcock got caught in a rundown as Paxson stole second. However, she was able to scoot home on an errant throw that also allowed the go-ahead run to reach third. Paxson would stay there, though, as Keller struck out and Weedon grounded out to end the inning.
It looked like the Lions might regain the lead in the top of the sixth, but Columbia left a runner stranded on third. Manhattan then left the potential winning run on base in the seventh, and the Jaspers went to extra innings for the fifth time this season and the fourth time in seven games.
“It's different here, because here you play extra innings,” Pardalis said. “In Florida, we played the international tiebreaker (with a runner starting each half-inning on second base). That's a different game. That's more of a speed game. Today we worked it a little different.”
Stallard finished 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI, while Bowman went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two driven in. Babcock scored twice, and Keller knocked in a pair of runs. Kelsi Redding (Tucson, Ariz.) got the start in the circle and went 3.2 innings. She allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits, struck out four and walked three. Amy Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) (3-6) earned the win in relief after yielding two runs and three hits while striking out three and walking three in 5.1 innings.
For Columbia, Nicole Borchard went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, and Emily Snodgrass was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Alix Cook had a pair of RBIs, while Alyssa Swearingen and Caruthers both scored twice. Starter Brooke Darling surrendered three runs (two earned) and three hits in one inning before being replaced by Kalli Schultea. Schultea tossed three innings and was charged with three runs (two earned) and four hits. She also struck out three and walked two. Kenyon (4-4) gave up two runs on three hits while striking out six and walking two in 4.2 innings of relief.
In game one, the Lions took control early with six runs in the top of the first. The big blows in the inning were a two-run single by Borchard and Swearingen's bases loaded double to center that also knocked in a pair. The Jaspers got one run back in the bottom half of the inning, as Jocelin Whitmore (La Habra, Calif.) doubled down the right field line before Bowen and Bowman followed with back-to-back singles. Babcock was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Kenyon struck out the next two Manhattan hitters to get out of the inning.
Columbia added two runs in the fourth, then picked up three more in the top of the fifth. Manhattan put a pair of runners on in the bottom half of the inning, as Bowen ripped a one-out double and Babcock reached on an infield single, but Paxson followed with a popup to second that brought the game to an early conclusion.
In addition to going 2-for-3 at the plate, Bowen got the start in the circle for Manhattan in game one. She allowed eight runs (seven earned) and nine hits in four innings. Bowen, who retired eight straight Lions at one point, also struck out two and walked one. Erin Hamm (Collegeville, Pa.) pitched the fifth, surrendering three runs and four hits.
Every Columbia starter had at least one hit in the first game, led by Swearingen's 3-for-3 effort. She also scored a run and knocked in two others, while Borchard was 2-for-3 with a run scored and three RBIs. Morgan Cook and Caruthers each score twice, and Macy Shrum added a pair of hits to go along with two RBIs. Kenyon started game one and tossed a five-inning complete game. She gave up one run and scattered six hits while also notching six strikeouts and walking two.
The Jaspers now have a week off before returning to action. Manhattan hosts a twinbill against Fairleigh Dickinson (10-10) at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3.