Manhattan-Army Box Score
Manhattan-Brown Box Score
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Once again, the Manhattan College softball team got a sensational pitching performance by Erika Sullivan (Bay Shore, N.Y.) to post a victory in its first game of the day at the Rebel Spring Games. However, after the Lady Jaspers (4-5) knocked off Army (6-5) 1-0, they continued their trend of alternating wins and losses, dropping a 6-4 decision to Brown (8-3) later on Thursday afternoon at the Fortune Road Athletic Complex.
After dominating Lafayette twice earlier in the week, Sullivan was brilliant against Army on Thursday. Sullivan (3-1), who gave up a total of two runs in 14 innings against the Leopards, gave up just four hits in this one to post her second shutout of the week. She struck out four and walked only one.
Ashley Rampino(Manalapan, N.J.) gave Sullivan all the run support she needed with an RBI double in the top of the third. The inning started when Jocelin Whitmore (La Habra, Calif.) reached on an error, but she was erased on a double play. After Melissa Donnelly (Long Beach, N.Y.) walked, Rampino belted a double to right, knocking in Donnelly with what turned out to be the only run of the game.
Army failed to get a runner past second and only put two runners on base in the same inning once-in the second. The Black Knights did threaten in the bottom of the seventh when Erin Deger ripped a one-out single to right, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, but pinch hitter Cassie Ellington popped to short to end the game and give Sullivan her second 1-0 victory in her last three starts.
Rampino and Nicole Michel (Massapequa, N.Y.) provided the bulk of the offense for the Lady Jaspers. The two accounted for five of Manhattan's six hits in the game and went a combined 5-for-6 at the plate. Rampino was 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Michel went 2-for-3. Whitmore had the other Manhattan hit, going 1-for-3.
Army's four hits were scattered among four different players. Jennae Tomlinson had the Black Knights' only extra-base hit, a leadoff double in the first. Beverly Nordin (2-2) pitched well, but suffered a tough-luck loss. She went the distance, allowing one run on six hits while striking out two and walking one.
Against Brown, the Lady Jaspers jumped out to a 4-1 lead thanks to a three-run third inning. After Donnelly doubled to start the inning, Manhattan scored three runs without the benefit of another hit. A pair of Brown errors loaded the bases, then Kelly Murray (Leominster, Mass.) drew a walk and Melissa Cascio (Kings Park, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch to chase Brown starter Trish Melvin. Liz DiMascio came in to relieve Melvin and struck out Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.), but Manhattan was able to tack on another run on Meghan McDevitt's (Nutley, N.J.) bases-loaded walk.
After giving up a run in the second, Donnelly cruised until the sixth, when the Bears rallied for a five-spot to take the lead. Kate Strobel started the inning with a walk, then moved to third on Stephanie Thompson's double. Following a popup and a groundout, DiMascio helped her own cause with a single to right. A single by Erika Mueller loaded the bases, then the Bears tied the game on Avery Silverstein's two-run double. The next batter was Sandra Mastrangelo, whose two-run single gave Brown a 6-4 lead.
Manhattan put two runners on with two out in the bottom of the sixth, but DiMascio retired Michel on a groundout to end the threat. She then set the Lady Jaspers down in order in the bottom of the seventh.
The Lady Jaspers were held to just four hits against the Bears, led by Donnelly's 2-for-3 effort. Donnelly, who ripped a pair of doubles in the contest, also scored a run and went the distance in the circle. She suffered her first loss of the season (1-1) after surrendering six runs on nine hits, striking out two and walking one.
Mastrangelo, Thompson and Mueller each had two hits for the Bears. Mastrangelo went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Thompson was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Melvin started in the circle and went 2.1 innings. She gave up four runs (one earned) on three hits, struck out one and walked four. DiMascio (5-1) earned the win in relief after surrendering just one hit, striking out four and walking two in 4.2 scoreless innings.
Manhattan has one more day of action in the Sunshine State before returning north. The Lady Jaspers take on Fairleigh Dickinson (5-7) at 9 a.m. on Friday, then conclude the Rebel Spring Games with an 11 a.m. matchup against Hartford (4-3).
