Vote Bowman for the Senior CLASS Award
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
NEW YORK – Elena Bowman (San Mateo, CA) of the Manhattan College softball team hit her 50th career home run on Wednesday afternoon, becoming the second player in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) history to reach that plateau. The milestone long ball came during the Jaspers' (19-15) 15-4 victory over Columbia (12-27) in game two of a doubleheader at Columbia Softball Stadium. The Lions won the first game, 3-0, in 10 innings.
After Bowman was walked five times in game one, Head Coach Tom Pardalis moved her into the leadoff spot for the nightcap. And she was promptly issued another free pass. Shannon Puthe (Mullica Hill, NJ) followed with a base hit, bringing up Jenn Vazquez (Fairfield, CT), who delivered a two-run single through the right side. Stephanie Reinhardt (Albany, NY) was hit by a pitch to put a pair of runners on, then Lauren Pitney (Ansonia, CT) made it 5-0 with a three-run blast to left center.
Manhattan added three more runs in the top of the third. Briana Matazinsky (Valley Falls, NY) singled and Reinhardt walked before Alexa Dawid (Milford, CT) knocked in a run with a single up the middle. Rachael Mumma (Mechanicsburg, PA) then smacked a two-run single to center that increased the Jaspers' lead to 8-0.
Columbia got three runs back in the bottom of the third, but the Jaspers responded with a four-spot in the fourth. Bowman and Puthe started the inning with walks, and they both came home on Vazquez's double to center. A Columbia error and a passed ball led to two more Manhattan tallies, putting the Jaspers up 12-3.
Bowman homered with one down in the top of the fifth. With the solo shot, she joined former Rider star Deanna Dovak as the only players in MAAC history with 50 career home runs.
That wasn't it for the Jaspers, though, as Madison Bailey (Phoenix, AZ) ripped a pinch-hit two-run single later in the inning to give Manhattan a 15-3 edge. Danielle Gabriel (Island Heights, NJ) allowed a run in the bottom of the fifth before closing the door on the Lions and sealing the Jaspers' 15-4 victory that snapped a four-game losing streak.
Vazquez went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBIs, and Pitney was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Bowman scored three times, while Puthe and Reinhardt crossed the plate twice each. Bailey and Mumma, meanwhile, both drove in a pair of runs. Anna Crowley (Eastchester, NY) made her first start of the season in the circle and lasted 2.1 innings. She allowed three runs on four hits, struck out two and walked one. Gabriel (3-3) earned the win after yielding one run on three hits with three strikeouts in 2.2 innings.
For the Lions, Reilly Metzger finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Jordan Townsend, whose walk-off homer ended game one, went 1-for-2 with two RBIs in the second contest. Taylor Troutt also had an RBI, while Kerry Cook and Maura Lynch each scored a run. Tessa Kroll (4-13) surrendered 15 runs (11 earned) and 12 hits in five innings. She struck out three and walked six.
Game two served as a stark contrast to the opener, which was a pitcher's duel. Manhattan managed just one hit, a Reinhardt single, through the first six innings, while Matazinsky limited the Lions to three singles over the first six frames.
Reinhardt walked to lead off the top of the seventh, and Puthe followed with a bunt single. After Dawid bunted the runners over to second and third, Pitney drew a walk to load the bases with two out. However, Vazquez grounded out to end the inning. Columbia then left a pair of runners on base in its half of the seventh, sending the contest into extra innings still scoreless.
A walk to Bowman started the top of the eighth, then Matazinsky singled and Reinhardt walked to load the bases with one out. Puthe was up next and she sent a slow roller towards third base, but Columbia got the out at home. The Lions then retired Dawid on a ground ball to end the threat.
Matazinsky went nine shutout innings in the circle for the Jaspers, allowing five hits and four walks while striking out six, before giving way to Erin Hamm (Collegeville, PA) (4-2) in the 10th. However, she issued a leadoff walk to Maddie Gott, then Troutt singled. Townsend was up next, and she ended the contest with a three-run walk-off shot to left center that gave the Lions a 3-0 win.
Troutt had four of Columbia's seven hits in the game, finishing 4-for-4 with a run scored. Townsend, meanwhile, was 2-for-4 with her game-winning three-run homer. Starting pitcher Tonia Wu went five innings for the Lions. She gave up just one hit, struck out four and walked three. Maura Lynch (1-0) surrendered two hits and six walks over the final five innings to complete the shutout.
The Jaspers (4-4 MAAC), who just completed an eight-game road trip, will finally return to Gaelic Park on Saturday for a 10 a.m. doubleheader against MAAC rival Niagara (4-28, 2-4 MAAC). That twinbill begins a string where Manhattan will play 12 of its next 14, including its next eight straight, at home.