Jaspers' Comeback Season Ends in MAAC Tourney

Box Score

West Long Branch, NJ - After winning 10 of 12 to qualify for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship, and 13 of the last 17 games, Manhattan softball fell to #6 Marist 2-1 in an elimination game on Friday, May 11, ending the Jaspers' hope of a league title. Fifth-seeded Manhattan finishes the season 28-25 overall, and one of the last four teams left in the conference playoffs. 

Starting Manhattan pitcher Briana Matazinsky went a complete game for the Jaspers, giving up seven hits and just one walk. The senior finishes her time at Manhattan with a 2.60 career ERA, good for seventh all-time. She also went 2-3 in Friday's game, finishing her career with 169 total hits and a place in the top 10 all-time. 

The Red Foxes grabbed their first run of the game in the top of the second on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded and one out. But Matazinsky found her way out of the jam, retiring the next two batters and forcing Marist to leave three on base. 

In the top of the third, Marist struck again, this time on a sac fly that scored Hunter Hand from third. The Red Foxes, up 2-0 early, would only tally three more hits in the game, and not score again. 

A double by first baseman Christine Gebhardt (Middletown, NJ / Middletown North) got the Jasper offense going in the bottom of the third. Lauren Pitney (Ansonia, CT / St. Joseph's) then walked, followed by a Matazinsky walk to load the bases with two outs. But Manhattan was unable to drive in a run, as catcher Daniela Chiorazzi (Stony Point, NY / North Rockland) flied out to right field, leaving three on. 

Chiorazzi made a comeback in the bottom of the fifth, singling up the middle to drive in Pitney for the Jaspers' first run and cutting the Marist lead to one. She would go 1-3 in the game, with one RBI. But Manhattan would leave another two runners on as outfielder Adriana Gambino (Stamford, CT / Westhill) grounded out to end the inning. 

Matazinsky held the Red Foxes in check for the remainder of the game, including the top of the seventh when Marist was able to get a runner on third with two outs. A Manhattan rally seemed inevitable in the bottom of the inning, after Matazinsky, Chiorazzi, and Gambino all got on with one out. Senior Shannon Puthe (Mullica Hill, NJ / Saint Joseph's) looked to drive in the tying run on an infield hit, but the Red Foxes got the force at home to make it bases loaded, two outs. Junior Kat Prevo (San Diego, CA / Our Lady of Peace) then flied out to center field, ending the game and concluding Manhattan's tourney run.

The Red Foxes move on to play #2 Fairfield, who lost to #1 Monmouth in a 14-inning marathon game earlier in the day. The winner of that match-up will play Monmouth Saturday, May 12. The Hawks, who are undefeated in the double-elimination tournament, will have to be beaten twice for another team to take the MAAC title.