Manhattan University Athletics

Riverdale, NY - After a break in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action this week, Manhattan softball returns to league play on Friday, April 13, against Rider in Lawrenceville, NJ. The Jaspers will return to the Garden State on Saturday to play Monmouth in West Long Branch. 

Rider (8-22, 1-5 MAAC) has started conference play 1-5, dropping doubleheaders to both Monmouth and Iona. The Broncs split with Quinnipiac earlier in the season, earning a 10-0, five-inning win over the Bobcats in which Rider pitcher Emily Oltman held the team to just three hits. It was Quinnipiac's only MAAC loss of the season so far. 

At the plate, Rider is led by Maddy Chain, who has compiled a team-high .371 batting average, with a .400 on-base percentage and 15 RBIs. Elyse Cuttic leads the team in RBIs, batting in 18. On the mound, Cuttic has also compiled the Broncs' lowest ERA at 3.84, with a win-loss record of 4-11. Rider's Toni Nino leads the MAAC in runs scored at 28.

Monmouth (13-13, 0-4 MAAC) is undefeated so far in the MAAC, sweeping Rider and Fairfield in a combined score of 24-6. Katie Baron leads the Hawks (and the MAAC) with a .427 batting average and 21 RBIs (also a team high). She has earned a .720 slugging percentage, in addition to a .510 on-base percentage (both good for second place in the MAAC). Monmouth's pitching cadre has held opponents to a combined .271 batting average this season.

The Jaspers (14-16, 0-4 MAAC) go into Friday's doubleheader against Rider 0-4 in the MAAC, losing to Fairfield and Siena. Senior Briana Matazinsky (Valley Falls, NY / Tamarac) leads the Jaspers with a .388 batting average, second in the league. She's also earned a team-high 18 RBIs. Junior Lauren Pitney (Ansonia, CT / St. Joseph's) lands at fourth in the MAAC in slugging percentage (.639) and leads the league in on-base percentage (.536). She is also tied for second in total runs scored (23) and home runs (6) after smasing two, including a grad slam, in the Jaspers' game against Columbia on April 11. 

Pitcher Nicole Williams (Ansonia, CT / St. Joseph's) holds the Jaspers' lowest ERA at 2.96 in 75.2 innings pitched. As a group, Manhattan's pitchers have held opponents to a combined batting average of .277. 

Manhattan's Friday doubleheader against Rider will begin at 2 p.m. Fans can follow the games' live stats on Rider's website. Saturday's Monmouth doubleheader will begin at 12 p.m., with live stats on Monmouth's website.