Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
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WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - On Sunday afternoon, the Manhattan College softball team visited Hartford in a non-conference doubleheader. Behind three hits from Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.), the Jaspers (4-23) notched a 5-1 victory in game one, while the Hawks (5-32) took the second game at the Hartford Softball Field by a 5-3 margin.
The Jaspers struck early in game one, taking advantage of a Hartford error to score twice in the top of the first. Bowen led off the game with a single to right, then Amanda Babcock (Haverstraw, N.Y.) drew a walk. Kelly Murray (Leominster, Mass.) was up next, and she dropped down a sacrifice bunt. However, the throw to first went into right field, allowing Bowen to score and Babcock to move to third. Babcock then scored when Carla Velasquez (Miami, Fla.) reached on a fielder's choice.
The Hawks cut Manhattan's lead in half with a run in the bottom of the first, but the Jaspers got that run back in the top of the third. Bowen started the rally with a single to right, and she came across when Babcock ripped an RBI double to left. The Japers then made it 5-1 with a two-spot in the fourth. Another Harford error set up Manhattan's fourth-inning rally, as Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) singled, then moved to second on an error. With two on and two out, Amanda Berrios (Carteret, N.J.) knocked in both runs with a double to left center.
Bowen had half of the Jaspers' six hits in game one, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Babcock went 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, while Berrios was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Kelsi Redding (Tucson, Ariz.) went the distance in the circle and earned her first win in a Manhattan uniform. She surrendered one run on five hits, struck out three and walked seven.
Hartford's five hits were scattered among five different players. Jordan Haines knocked in Kate Wacyk with the Hawks' only run. Eve Clausen (0-6) pitched the first 3.2 innings and took the loss. She gave up five runs (three earned) and five hits while striking out one and walking two. Siera Sheehan yielded one hit, struck out one and walked one in 3.1 innings of shutout relief.
Manhattan again took advantage of Hartford miscues to jump out to an early 2-0 lead in game two. Bowen led off the game with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. After Babcock walked, Murray again reached on a throwing error while laying down a sacrifice bunt. Manhattan got on the board on the Hawks' second error of the inning, then added a second run when Murray took home on the back end of a double-steal.
However, after going down in order in the bottom of the first, the Hawks erupted for five runs in the second. Melani Maxwell knocked in three runs with a bases-loaded double, and Shannon Simpkins followed with an RBI single. Hartford added another tally when Amber Andrews reached on an error.
In the top of the fourth, the Jaspers trimmed their deficit to 5-3. Keller knocked an infield single with two down, then stole second to move into scoring position. Mickayla Romero (Las Vegas, Nev.) followed, and she belted an RBI single to left field. However, Romero was thrown out on the play when she ventured too far off first base following the hit, ending the inning. Still down by two, Manhattan put together a rally in the top of the seventh. Romero walked with one out and moved to second on a Berrios single. The game ended, though, when Bowen hit a line drive to short.
Bowen went 2-for-4 at the plate in game two. She also tossed four scoreless innings in the circle. Bowen surrendered just one hit and one walk. Romero went 1-for-2 with an RBI, while Keller was 1-for-3 with a run scored. Redding (1-8) made the start and took the loss after giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits while striking out two and walking one.
Chelsea Mooney was 2-for-2 with a run scored for the Hawks, while Maxwell went 1-for-3 with a run scored and three RBIs. Simpkins had a run scored and an RBI as part of a 1-for-3 game. Ana Alberti (1-5) got the start in the circle and went four innings. She surrendered three runs (one earned) on three hits, struck out one and walked one. Sheehan tossed the final three innings and picked up a save after allowing two hits without a run while striking out one and walking two.
Eight of the Jaspers' next 10 games will be at Gaelic Park. Manhattan begins a six-game homestand with a 2 p.m. doubleheader against Quinnipiac (22-12) on Wednesday.
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