Jaspers Overtake Iona

Box Score

West Long Branch, NJ - A four-run fourth inning helped secure a 6-2 Manhattan softball win over #4 Iona on Wednesday, May 9, as the Jaspers advance in the winner's bracket of the 2018 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship. Improving to 27-23 on the year and continuing its win streak to 10, fifth-seeded Manhattan will play regular season champs and number one seed Monmouth on Thursday at 11:30 a.m.

Junior Lauren Pitney (Ansonia, CT / St. Joseph's) went 2-3 on the day, with two RBIs. In the top of the second, she singled to the left side, driving in Manhattan's first two runs of the game and giving the Jaspers a 2-1 lead over the Gaels. 

The game remained tight over the next inning, then the Manhattan bats exploded in the top of the fourth. With Pitney and Briana Matazinsky (Valley Falls, NY / Tamarac) on, catcher Daniela Chiorazzi (Stony Point, NY / North Rockland) singled up the middle, sending Pitney home. The next batter, Adriana Gambino (Stamford, CT / Westhill), singled to right center, scoring Matazinsky. Next, senior Shannon Puthe (Mullica Hill, NJ / Saint Joseph's) singled to right, driving in Chiorazzi and Gambino. When the Jaspers finally retired in the fourth, they found themselves with a comfortable five-run lead. 

Winning pitcher Matazinsky would let up one more run in the game before leaving after 5.1 innings pitched. She allowed just five hits and walked none, improving to 11-9 on the season. Pitching 1.2 innings in relief, Kayla McDermott (Garnerville, NY / North Rockland) struck out four of the five batters she faced, securing the win for the Jaspers. 

If Manhattan defeats Monmouth on Thursday, the Jaspers will go on to play May 11 at 11 a.m. in West Long Branch, NJ. If the Jaspers fall to the Hawks tomorrow, they will play a second game against #3 Siena at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.