Manhattan University Athletics

NEW YORK – The Manhattan College softball team made the short trip to Columbia for a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon.  After the Lions (14-10) scored four runs in the seventh to notch a 5-4 victory in game one, the Jaspers (8-15) took the nightcap at Columbia Softball Stadium by a 12-8 count.

Manhattan took the lead in the third inning of game one when Meredith Bryant (Brielle, N.J.) connected for her first career home run, a solo shot to left field.  The Jaspers added two more in the fifth, as Elena Bowman (San Mateo, Calif.) and Amanda Paxson (Cedar Grove, N.J.) delivered back-to-back RBI doubles.  After Manhattan added an unearned tally that made it 4-0 in the top of the sixth, the Lions scored their first run of the game on Shelby Unger's RBI double in the bottom half of the inning.

Kerry Cook began Columbia's seventh-inning rally with a single to center, and Liz Caggiano was then hit by a pitch.  After Mackensy Lakian struck out, Kayla Shimoda singled to load the bases for Alix Cook.  And she delivered a game-tying triple down the right field line.  Emily Snodgrass popped up for the second out, but Unger followed with a walk-off single that gave the Lions a 5-4 victory.

Bryant had a pair of extra-base hits, smacking a double to go along with her homer.  She also scored two runs.  All four of Manhattan's hits in the game went for extra bases, including the RBI doubles by Bowman and Paxson.  Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.) (5-4) went the distance in the circle and took the loss.  She allowed five runs on eight hits, struck out three and walked one in 6.2 innings.

Unger and Alix Cook each went 2-for-4 for Columbia, and the pair accounted for all five of the Lions' RBIs.  As a unit, Columbia recorded eight hits in the contest.  Starting pitcher Kayla Maloney lasted 4.2 innings in the circle.  She surrendered three runs on three hits, struck out two and walked two.  Brooke Darling (7-4) earned the win after holding the Jaspers to one unearned run and one hit while walking one in 2.1 innings.

Columbia jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on Unger's first-inning home run in game two, but the Jaspers responded with a five-spot in the top of the second.  Bryant got the rally started with a one-out single, then Anna Crowley (Eastchester, N.Y.) and Stephanie Reinhardt (Albany, N.Y.) delivered back-to-back singles to load the bases.  After Mickayla Romero (Las Vegas, Nev.) knocked an RBI single and another run scored on an error, Bowman sent a double to the wall in right center, bringing home a pair.  She moved to third on an error and came across a passed ball to give Manhattan a 5-2 lead.

In the top of the third, the Jaspers added five more.  Crowley started the rally when crushed a solo home run to left field.  After Bryant singled and moved to second on a groundout, Manhattan got four consecutive RBI doubles from Romero, Emily Cutler (Bloomingdale, N.J.), Bowen and Bowman to increase their advantage to 10-2.

However, the Lions responded with five runs of their own in the bottom of the third, with Nicole Borchard ripping a three-run homer to left that pulled Columbia within 10-7.  Borchard was responsible for another Columbia tally in her next at-bat, as she knocked in a run on a fielder's choice in the fifth.  The Jaspers countered with two in the top of the sixth, though.  Bryant's third hit of the game was an RBI single, while Romero also drove in a run with a bases loaded walk.

The Lions refused to go away, though, putting their first two batters on in the bottom of the sixth.  That's when Crowley came in to pitch, and she got the first out of the inning when Unger flied to left.  The next batter was Alyssa Rodia, who sent a ground ball towards third.  Romero stepped on the base for the force out, then threw to first to complete the inning-ending double play and preserve Manhattan's lead.  After the Jaspers went down in order in the top of the seventh, Crowley retired the side in the bottom of the seventh.  The game ended when Paxson, who had only moved to right field when Crowley moved into the circle made an excellent diving grab on a sinking line drive by Borchard.

As a team, Manhattan collected 16 hits in game two, with five different Jaspers having multi-hit efforts.  Bryant was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Bowen finished 3-for-5, scored twice, and knocked in another run.  Romero went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs, and Bowman collected three RBIs to go along with two hits and a run scored.  Paxson also recorded a pair of hits.  Danielle Gabriel (Island Heights, N.J.) went 2.2 innings in the circle, surrendering six runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out two and walking two.  Amy Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) (2-8) picked up the win in relief after allowing two runs on three hits with a strikeout and two walks in 2.1 innings.  Crowley retired all five batters she faced and was credited with two innings pitched, as she nailed down the save.

Kerry Cook went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI for Columbia.  Borchard finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and four RBIs, while Unger was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBIs.  Tessa Kroll (2-1) took the loss after yielding five runs (four earned) on six hits and striking out two in two innings of work.  Tonia Wu gave up four runs on four hits in 0.2 innings, while game one winner Darling tossed 4.1 innings of relief in game two.  She was charged with three runs (two earned) and six hits, struck out one and walked three.