Manhattan University Athletics

Loudonville, NY - Manhattan softball went 0-2 at Siena Sunday, April 8, in the Jaspers second Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheader of the season.

Manhattan (14-14, 0-4 MAAC) was shutout in game one, losing to the Saints (9-15, 4-2 MAAC) 4-0. The Jaspers then took Siena to extra innings in game two, ultimately falling to the Saints 3-2 when Jazmin Ortiz hit a walk-off home run to lead off the bottom of the eighth. 

Pitcher Briana Matazinsky (Valley Falls, NY / Tamarac) put together a five-strikeout effort in the first game, while only walking two in 5.0 innings pitched. In relief, Kayla McDermott (Garnerville, NY / North Rockland) faced three batters and struck out one. But with quiet bats in the contest, the Jaspers compiled just three hits against the Saints, including a double from Kat Prevo (San Diego, CA / Our Lady of Peace). Siena pitcher Lauren Butts earned her fourth career complete shutout game and her second of the season. 

Down 0-2 in game two, the Jaspers scored their first run of the doubleheader when senior Rachael Mumma (Mechanicsburg, PA / Cumberland Valley) hit a double to center field in the fourth, scoring Dominique Palagruto (Sewell, NJ / Washington Township). Mumma was thrown out at third in an attempt to grab one more base, an out that would prove to be crucial to the game, when, later in the inning, Maddie Colombo (Los Gatos, CA / Los Gatos) homered to left field to bring the Jaspers even with the Saints at 2-2. 

The score remained tied for the next three innings, with pitcher Nicole Williams (Ansonia, CT / St. Joseph's) allowing just one more hit from the Saints. Up to bat in the top of the eighth, Victoria Ross (Bloomfield, NJ / Bloomfield) reached on a fielding error, becoming the Jaspers' hopeful go-ahead run.

After Palagruto struck out swinging, Ross was caught stealing at second. Mumma then grounded out to end Manhattan's offensive attempt in the eighth. With a 1-0 count in the bottom of the inning, Siena's Ortiz went yard off Williams for the walk-off win. 

Colombo's homer was the only one of the afternoon for Manhattan. Palagruto compiled a team-high batting average of .400, going 2-5 with one run. Ross, Prevo, and Shannon Puthe (Mullica Hill, NJ / Saint Joseph's) also all tallied two hits for the day. 

Up Next:
Manhattan travels across the Spuyten Duyvil Creek to play Columbia on Wednesday, April 11 in a single game starting at 4:00 p.m.