Manhattan University Athletics

Riverdale, NY - In Manhattan's first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) contests of the season, the Jaspers fell to Fairfield in both games of a doubleheader played Saturday, April 7 at Gaelic Park. Manhattan (14-13, 0-2 MAAC) lost 7-3 in the first game, while the Stags (10-19, 2-2 MAAC) took game two with a score of 7-2. 

Senior Briana Matazinsky (Valley Falls, NY / Tamarac) went 2-6 on the day, with three RBIs overall and a two-run homer in game one. Senior Shannon Puthe (Mullica Hill, NJ / Saint Joseph's) compiled a team-high three hits on the day. 



The Stags kicked-off scoring early in the first match-up, when Angelina McGuire hit a two-run home run in the top of the opening inning. The Jaspers responded with a homer of their own by Adriana Gambino (Stamford, CT / Westhill) in the bottom of the first, cutting the lead to just one.

Fairfield added three runs over the next two innings, extending the lead to 5-1 before Matazinsky added two for the Jaspers with her home run in the bottom of the fourth. It would be the last time Manhattan scored in the game, however, leaving five on base in the next three innings. 

Matazinsky earned the loss from the mound for the Jaspers, pitching 2.1 innings and giving up five runs on six hits. She was relieved in the third by Kayla McDermott (Garnerville, NY / North Rockland), who went 3.1 innings, giving up five hits and two runs. Stephanie Kristo (San Jose, CA / Archbishop Mitty) finished the game, facing five batters and striking out one. 

Fairfield also broke out to an early lead in game two, scoring one in the first and adding four in the top of the second on two home runs. Though the Jaspers were able to hold the Stags to just three more hits for the rest of the game, the damage was done early, putting Manhattan in a 5-0 hole.

The Jaspers got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, when a sac fly by senior Victoria Ross (Bloomfield, NJ / Bloomfield) scored Matazinsky. She returned the favor in the seventh, when her sacrifice hit to right field scored Puthe. But Manhattan was unable to put together a late rally, eventually falling to Fairfield. 

Nicole Williams (Ansonia, CT / St. Joseph's) went 1.2 innings in the loss for the Jaspers. McDermott and Kristo combined for 5.1 innings in relief. 

Up Next:
Manhattan travels to Siena for a doubleheader against the Saints on Sunday, April 8.