Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Manhattan College softball team saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end on Sunday, as the Jaspers (14-16, 6-2 MAAC) suffered their first two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) losses of the season. Fairfield (19-15, 7-3 MAAC) notched a 4-3 victory in eight innings in game one of a doubleheader at Alumni Softball Field, then completed the sweep with a 4-1 win in the nightcap.
Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.) and Elena Bowman (San Mateo, Calif.) began game one with a pair of singles, but the Jaspers were unable to push a run across in the top of the first. The Stags then took the lead in the bottom half of the inning, as Kristen Filicia hit a leadoff single, moved to second on a sacrifice, and scored on a base hit by her sister Lauren. Fairfield made it 2-0 in the third when Lauren Filica delivered another RBI single.
After leaving six runners on base over the first four innings, Manhattan finally broke through in the fifth, as Bowman crushed a solo home run to left center. The blast was her 10th of the year, making her just the third player in program history with double-digit home runs in a season.
Manhattan then pulled in front with a pair of runs in the sixth. Sydney Weedon (Santa Ana, Calif.) started the inning with a single to left field, and pinch runner Audrey Avery (Malta, N.Y.) advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.). After an infield single by Emily Cutler (Bloomingdale, N.J.), Bowen delivered a single to center field that knotted the game at 2-2. Bowman was up next, and she gave the Jaspers a 3-2 lead with an RBI single to left. The Jaspers looked to extend the margin on Amanda Paxson's (Cedar Grove, N.J.) infield single, but Bowen was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. Fairfield immediately responded with an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth, with Lauren Filicia recording her third RBI single of the game.
In the top of the seventh, Manhattan loaded the bases with one down before Cutler sent a grounder towards third and the Stags threw home, getting Anna Gallacher (New Fairfield, Conn.) at the plate for the second out. Fairfield then got out of the inning when Bowen grounded to second. The Stags put two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, but Bowen got Sammy Ruffalo to hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning and send the contest into the eighth.
The Jaspers put a pair of runners on in the top of the eighth before Rae Ball got out of the jam by striking out Andi Stallard (Katy, Texas) and inducing a Mickayla Romero (Las Vegas, Nev.) popup. Lauren Liseth walked leading off the bottom of the eighth, and Lauren Filicia was given an intentional pass with one out. After Nicole Capra flied out, Ball belted a single to center, giving Fairfield a 4-3 win.
As a team, Manhattan collected 13 hits in game one. Bowman was 4-for-4 and finished a triple shy of the cycle. She had two RBIs and scored a run. Weedon and Cutler each had two hits, and Cutler added a run scored, while Bowen went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Bowen (6-5) also took the loss in the circle. She yielded four runs (three earned) on nine hits, struck out three and walked nine in 7.2 innings.
Lauren Filicia went 3-for-4 with three RBIs for Fairfield, while Kristen Filicia was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Liseth also scored twice. In addition to going 1-for-5 with the game-winning RBI at the plate, Ball (8-8) earned the win in the circle. She was charged with three runs and 12 hits while striking out three in 7.2 innings of work. Lauren Falkanger allowed a hit and a walk, and recorded a strikeout in 0.1 innings.
In game two, the Stags struck for a pair of runs in the first and two more in the second. Lauren Filicia drove in the game's first run with a bases-loaded walk, while Ruffalo came across on a passed ball. In the second inning, Liseth delivered an RBI double and Ball knocked in a run on a sacrifice fly.
That proved to be more than enough offense for Rebecca Trott. She didn't allow a hit until the sixth, when Bowman singled after Bowen reached on an error to start the inning. Manhattan loaded the bases on Stallard's two-out single and got on the board when Bowen scored on a wild pitch. However, Trott struck out Weedon to end the inning, then retired the Jaspers in order in the seventh to preserve the 4-1 victory.
The sixth-inning singles by Bowman and Stallard were Manhattan's only hits off Trott in the contest. Starting pitcher Kesli Redding (Tucson, Ariz.) (2-3) took the loss after giving up two runs on one hit, striking out one and walking four in 0.1 innings. Amy Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) tossed 5.2 innings of relief, surrendering two runs on four hits while striking out five and walking two.
Fairfield had five hits in the contest, with Liseth going 2-for-2 with an RBI. Ruffalo was 1-for-2 with a run scored, while Ball and Lauren Filicia each drove in a run. Trott (10-3) allowed just two singles and one unearned run in a complete game effort. She struck out eight and walked two.
The Jaspers take a break from MAAC play on Tuesday, when they welcome Albany (21-10) to GaelicPark for a 3 p.m. twinbill. The Great Danes swept Manhattan in a doubleheader during the Rebel Spring Games on March 18.