Manhattan University Athletics

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – In its final non-conference road game of the season, the Manhattan College softball team (21-12) notched a 5-2 victory over Sacred Heart (12-25) at Pioneer Park on Wednesday afternoon.  Game two of the scheduled doubleheader was rained out.

It rained steadily throughout the contest, which began 45 minutes prior to its originally-scheduled 3 p.m. start time.

After leaving the bases loaded in the second, the Jaspers struck for the game's first runs in the top of the fourth.  Sydney Weedon (North Tustin, Calif.) started the rally with a one-out single to center, and Stephanie Reinhardt (Albany, N.Y.) followed with a walk.  Pinch runner Madison Bailey (Phoenix, Ariz.) was then thrown out trying to score from second on Briana Matazinsky's (Valley Falls, N.Y.) infield single.  Victoria Ross (Bloomfield, N.J.) was up next, and she sent a ground ball that went off the third baseman's glove into left field, allowing Reinhardt to score.  Emily Cutler (Bloomingdale, N.J.) then made it 2-0 with a base hit through the left side.

The Jaspers increased their cushion to 3-0 on Weedon's RBI single in the fifth before the Pioneers scored two in the bottom of the sixth.  However, Erin Hamm (Collegeville, Pa.) got Alyssa Pitre on a line drive to short with the tying run on first to end the threat.  Manhattan responded immediately, putting two more runs on the board in the seventh.  Elena Bowman (San Mateo, Calif.) started the inning with a single and scored on Weedon's double to left.  Reinhardt followed with a fly ball to left field, and, on the play, pinch runner Rachael Mumma (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) crossed the plate just before Weedon was thrown out trying to move from second to third.  Hamm then shut the door in the bottom of the seventh, as Manhattan avoided its first three-game losing streak of the season with the 5-2 victory.

Weedon finished 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in the game.  Cutler and Bowman added two hits apiece, while Paxson scored a pair of runs.  Amy Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) (12-5) earned the win after giving up just two hits in four shutout innings.  She also struck out three, bringing her season total to 100.  Danielle Gabriel (Island Heights, N.J.) surrendered two runs on one hit and four walks in one inning of work, and Hamm pitched the final two innings to earn the save.  She allowed one hit and walked one.

Kate Nadler had two of Sacred Heart's four hits.  She also scored a run.  Victoria D'Addario went 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Hannah Ford also drove in a run.  Starting pitcher Kacie Wentworth (3-11) lasted 4.2 innings and took the loss.  She was charged with three runs (one earned) on eight hits to go along with three strikeouts and two walks.  Jamie Carlson allowed two runs on two hits, struck out three and walked one in 2.1 innings of relief.