Errors Prove Costly In Loss to Kent State

MADEIRA BEACH, FL – On Sunday afternoon, the Manhattan College softball team concluded the Madeira Beach Invitational with a matchup against Kent State.  Manhattan (1-4) jumped out to a 2-1 lead after two innings, but was unable to hold on, as the Golden Flashes (7-7) registered a 5-2 victory at the Madeira Beach Softball Complex.

After Kent State scored an unearned run in the bottom of the first, the Jaspers responded with a pair in the top of the second.  Jenn Vazquez (Fairfield, CT) led off the inning with a single to center, then scored when Stephanie Reinhardt's (Albany, NY) fly ball to left was misplayed into a three-base error.  Victoria Ross (Bloomfield, NJ) was up next, and she delivered an RBI single that put Manhattan in front 2-1.

However, Kent State took advantage of two Manhattan errors in the third to score two runs and go ahead 3-2.  The Golden Flashes then plated two more in the fifth to increase its advantage to 5-2.  Kent State pitcher Ronnie Ladines, meanwhile, limited the Jaspers to just three base runners—all on walks—after the second inning.  Manhattan got a runner to second with two out in the seventh before Shannon Puthe (Mullica Hill, NJ) flied out to end the game.

Puthe led off the contest with a single, one of just three Manhattan hits in the game.  Vazquez had a base hit and scored a run, while Ross recorded the Jaspers' only RBI.  Briana Matazinsky (Valley Falls, NY) (1-2) pitched five innings and allowed five runs, only one of which was earned, on eight hits and three walks.  Stephanie Kristo (San Jose, CA) tossed a 1-2-3 sixth in the circle.

Eight different Kent State players singled in the game.  Holly Speers finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Vanessa Scoraste was 1-for-3 with two runs scored.  Ladines (3-3) was charged with two unearned runs on three hits while striking out two and walking three in a complete game effort.