Lady Jaspers Split Pair at Maryland Round Robin

Manhattan-Maryland Box Score 

Manhattan-Gardner-Webb Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. ? The Manhattan College softball team (1-1) opened its 2009 campaign on Saturday afternoon by splitting a pair of games at the Maryland Round Robin.  The Lady Jaspers posted a 4-2 victory over Maryland (7-10) in the first game before falling to Gardner-Webb (5-7), 3-1, in eight innings in the nightcap at Taylor Stadium.

The Lady Jaspers began the day with a 4-2 win over the host Terrapins.  Manhattan got on the board first with three runs in the bottom of the third (despite the game being played at Maryland's home field, Manhattan was the home team).  Monica Evangelista (Cedar Grove, N.J.) was hit by a pitch to open the inning, then back-to-back bunt singles by Kristina Walraven (Thompson Ridge, N.Y.) and Amanda Berrios (Carteret, N.J.) loaded the bases for Ashley Rampino (Manalapan, N.J.).  Rampino walked, allowing Evangelista to come across with the first run of the game.  After Nicole Michel (Massapequa, N.Y.) struck out, a Kelly Murray (Leominster, Mass.) walk and an infield single by Carla Velasquez (Miami, Fla.) drove in two more runs.  The Lady Jaspers scored three runs in the inning despite not hitting the ball out of the infield.  Manhattan added a run in the fourth when Walraven homered to left center.

The four runs were more than Melissa Donnelly (Long Beach, N.Y.) needed.  Manhattan's ace held Maryland scoreless over the first six innings, scattering six hits and not walking a batter.  The Terrapins finally broke through in the top of the seventh when Kathy McLaughlin tripled, then came home on Niki Lau's single.  After Nadine Blackie singled, Kerry Hickey singled to knock in Lau, but Donnelly finished off the 4-2 victory when Breanna Shaw flied to center.

Manhattan collected six hits in the victory, led by Walraven's 2-for-3 effort.  She also scored two runs.  Donnelly (1-0) worked all seven innings in the circle and struck out two.

Hickey was one of five Terrapins to collect two hits.  She also pitched 3.2 innings of relief, allowing one run and two hits while striking out six and walking one.  Sarah Dooley (1-5) got the start in the circle and took the loss after giving up three runs and four hits while striking out four and walking three in 2.1 innings.

Game two was a classic pitchers' duel between Erika Sullivan (Bay Shore, N.Y.) and Gardner-Webb's Cindy Boomhower.  Sullivan (0-1) gave up nine hits and struck out six, while Boomhower (1-0) yielded just six hits and struck out eight. 

Each pitcher worked the entire game and only two runner reached third base during regulation, as the contest moved into the eighth inning scoreless.

In extra innings, the batter who made the final out of the previous inning is placed at second base to start the inning.  That meant Donnelly was already in scoring position as the Lady Jaspers came to bat in the top of the eighth.  She moved to third when Sullivan grounded back to the pitcher, and scored on Walraven's grounder to short to give Manhattan a 1-0 lead.

Gardner-Webb immediately moved the tying run to third when Adrienne Smith hit a sacrifice bunt leading off the bottom half of the inning.  After issuing a walk to Christa Fullwood, Sullivan struck out Lindsea Hutchinson looking for the second out.  With Manhattan one out away from the win, Kelly Montgomery belted a walk-off three-run homer to left field to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 victory.

The Lady Jaspers also belted six hits against Gardner-Webb, led by Velasquez's 2-for-3 effort at the plate.  Harrell, Montgomery and Walls each had two of Gardner-Webb's nine hits.