Box Score
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - The cold and windy conditions on Thursday afternoon were no problem for the Manhattan College softball team, as the Lady Jaspers pounded out 23 hits and scored 17 runs. However, all that hitting takes time, and as a result, Manhattan and Wagner were only able to complete one game of a scheduled doubleheader at Wagner Field. The Lady Jaspers (10-14) notched a 9-7 victory over the Seahawks (1-17) in game one and led game two 8-3 when the contest was halted due to darkness after three innings.
Manhattan struck early in game one, scoring four times in the top of the first. Kristina Walraven (Thompson Ridge, N.Y.) and Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.) started the game with back-to-back singles, and they were both driven home on Jaci Rahey's (West Milford, N.J.) triple to the gap in right center. Rahey scored when Ashley Rampino (Manalapan, N.J.) lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, then Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) belted her first career home run, a solo shot that gave the Lady Jaspers a 4-0 lead.
A leadoff single by Nicole Michel (Massapequa, N.Y.) ignited another Manhattan rally in the top of the third. After Keller walked, Melissa Cascio (Kings Park, N.Y.) delivered an RBI double to right field. Jocelin Whitmore (La Habra, Calif.) followed with a two-run single that increased Manhattan's advantage to 7-0.
However, Wagner came all the way back with seven runs in the bottom of the fourth. After a two-run single by Brittany Huss, Amanda Garcia crushed a grand slam to pull the Seahawks within 7-6. Ashley Olsen then delivered a solo shot that tied the game.
The Lady Jaspers threatened to regain the lead in the top of the fifth, but left the bases loaded. Manhattan then went back in front with a run in the sixth. Rahey drew a leadoff walk, then Erika Sullivan (Bay Shore, N.Y.) singled and Keller walked to load the bases. Carla Velasquez (Miami, Fla.) was up next, and she delivered a sacrifice fly to center. In the top of the seventh, Manhattan added an insurance tally when Whitmore came around on Michel's RBI single. Wagner loaded the bases with two down in the bottom of the seventh before Sullivan retired Huss on a lineout to shortstop to end the game.
As a team, the Lady Jaspers collected 13 hits in the game, led by Whitmore's 3-for-4 effort. She also drove in a pair of runs, as every Manhattan starter had either at least one hit or at least one RBI. Walraven, Michel and Cascio all tallied two hits, while Rahey also knocked in two runs. Nine different Lady Jaspers scored. Rampino got the start in the circle and went four innings. She gave up seven runs on eight hits, struck out two and walked five. Sullivan (5-4) earned the win after tossing three innings of shutout relief. She allowed three hits and struck out three.
Alyssa McCulloch went 3-for-4 for the Seahawks. Huss was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Olsen also went 2-for-4 at the plate and Garcia had a 2-for-3 day with a grand slam. Judy Betz threw the first 2.2 innings in the circle, yielding seven runs on seven hits with a pair of walks. Garcia (1-6) pitched the final 4.1 innings and took the loss. She surrendered two runs on six hits, walked six and struck out one.
The Lady Jaspers put up another four-spot in the first inning of game two, then added a pair of runs in the second and two more in the third. However, since the game didn't go the required five innings, none of the statistics are official. There was no word as to when or if the contest will be completed.
Manhattan now has a full week off before returning to action. The Lady Jaspers visit Stony Brook (9-13) at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7.
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