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RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Despite a steady rain throughout, the Manhattan College softball team was able to complete its doubleheader against Siena without interruption on Saturday afternoon. After the Saints (14-19, 3-5 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) notched a 3-2 victory in the first game, Manhattan's bats came to life in game two, a 13-1 Lady Jaspers (14-18, 3-3 MAAC) win at Gaelic Park.
The first game got underway 10 minutes early in an attempt to beat the rain, and Siena got on the board immediately in the top of the first. Jessika-Jo Sandrini doubled on the first pitch of the game, then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly.
The Lady Jaspers took the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Carla Velasquez (Miami, Fla.) and Melissa Cascio (Kings Park, N.Y.) ripped back-to-back singles leading off the inning, and Manhattan tied it when Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.) smacked an RBI double down the left field line. Jaci Rahey (West Milford, N.J.) was up next, and she lifted a sacrifice fly deep to left field that put the Lady Jaspers in front.
Manhattan had a chance for more in the fourth, loading the bases with one out, but the Saints got the out at home on consecutive grounders to third to end the inning. Siena then went back in front with a two-spot in the top of the fifth. Alyssa Sceppaguercio reached on an infield single to start the inning. Pinch hitter Sara Gallacchi then popped up a bunt, which went off the end of Cascio's glove for a base hit. Natasha Powlowsky dropped down a sacrifice to move the runners to second and third, and Lindsey McKeever followed with a two-run single to center.
After going down in order in the fifth and sixth, the Lady Jaspers put the tying run on base when pinch hitter Monica Evangelista (Cedar Grove, N.J.), who was making her first appearance since being hit by a pitch against Columbia on March 29, drew a leadoff walk. However, she was left stranded, as Sandrini got two strikeouts and a groundout to finish off Siena's 3-2 victory.
Five different Lady Jaspers had hits in the game, including Bowen's RBI double. Cascio went 1-for-2 with a run scored. Erika Sullivan (Bay Shore, N.Y.) (7-6) pitched well, but took a tough-luck loss. She allowed three runs on seven hits, struck out seven and walked one.
For Siena, Sandrini went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while McKeever was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Sandrini (8-7) also threw a complete game in the circle, giving up two runs on five hits, striking out seven and walking four.
The rain and wind intensified during the 20 minutes between games, and the conditions had an effect on Siena's game two starter Amanda Filippazzo. Filippazzo walked the first two Manhattan hitters, then Rahey singled to load the bases. Nicole Michel (Massapequa, N.Y.) followed with a bases loaded walk that gave the Lady Jaspers a 1-0 lead. However, Siena got out of the inning with just the one run when, after a fielder's choice and a strikeout, Ashley Rampino (Manalapan, N.J.) sent a grounder to short and Michel, who was trying to advance from second to third, was called out for interference.
Manhattan continued its onslaught with seven runs in the bottom of the second. The inning started when Meghan McDevitt (Nutley, N.J.) reached on a throwing error. After Cascio walked, Kristina Walraven (Thompson Ridge, N.Y.) ripped a double to left field. Both runners scored easily, but Cascio was sent back to third when the umpires ruled that the ball had been touched in the Siena bullpen behind the left field fence. She eventually scored on Rahey's bases loaded walk. Another bases loaded walk was issued to Melissa Donnelly (Long Beach, N.Y.), then Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) was credited with an RBI when she hit a popup that the wind carried away from Siena shortstop Shannon Jones, who recovered to get Donnelly at second. Up next was Rampino, who delivered the biggest blow of the inning with a two-run double to left. McDevitt followed with an RBI double to right center that increased Manhattan's lead to 8-0.
Siena got on the board when Samantha Ray beat out an infield single to knock in Powlowsky in the top of the third, but the Lady Jaspers responded with five more in their half of the inning. Walraven singled, Bowen doubled and Rahey walked to load the bases with nobody out, then Michel delivered a two-run single to left. After Donnelly walked to load the bases, Keller ripped an RBI double that was just fair down the left field line. McDevitt was hit by a pitch to bring in another run, and Manhattan capped the rally on Cascio's check-swing RBI single to left.
That was more than enough offense for Rampino, who allowed just three Siena hits in the game. After issuing back-to-back walks in the top of the fifth, she got Jones to ground into a game-ending double play. Rampino (5-8) tossed a complete game, giving up only the one run while striking out seven and walking four.
Every Manhattan starter scored a run in the 13-1 victory, and the Lady Jaspers collected 11 hits as a team. Walraven went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Bowen was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs. Rahey also scored twice. Michel drove in three runs, and Keller, Rampino and McDevitt added two RBIs apiece.
Ray had two of Siena's three hits in game two, going 2-for-2 with an RBI. Filippazzo (5-9) didn't get out of the second and took the loss. She surrendered six runs (three earned) on three hits, struck out one and walked five. Darcy Gardner threw one-plus inning of relief, while Courtney Brinkman pitched the final two innings. The wet balls were clearly an issue for the Siena pitchers, as the trio surrendered nine Manhattan walks in the game.
Manhattan continues its six-game homestand with a 10 a.m. twinbill against first-place Marist (25-14, 8-0 MAAC). The doubleheader will be the start of a full day of action against the Red Foxes. The Manhattan and Marist baseball teams square off in a 12 p.m. doubleheader, and Marist is also the opponent for Manhattan's "Senior Night" women's lacrosse game at 8 p.m.
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