LYNCHBURG, Va. - A week after having their season-opening appearance at the N.C. A&T Softball Invitational washed out, the Manhattan College softball team finally got the opportunity to take the field for the first time in 2013 on Saturday afternoon. The Jaspers (0-1) took on Liberty (5-7) at the Liberty Softball Field, but were held to two hits in a 7-0 loss.
After the Jaspers went down in order in the top of the first, Liberty struck for a pair in the bottom half of the inning. Leadoff hitter Kate Zavodny reached on an error, stole second and moved to third on Blair Lawrence's single. Zavodny then scored the game's first run on the back end of a double steal. Lawrence later scored on an infield single, but Manhattan starter Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.) got out of further trouble when she struck out Megan Robinson with the bases loaded to end the inning.
The Flames added another tally in the fourth only to see Manhattan rally in the top of the fifth. Amanda Babcock (Haverstraw, N.Y.) drew a leadoff walk, then, with two out, Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) ripped a single down to right field line. Pinch hitter Heather Leone (Brick, N.J.) then earned a hard-fought walk, loading the bases for Jocelin Whitmore (La Habra, Calif.). However, Liberty hurler Annah Jo Brittingham retired Whitmore on strikes to end the threat and keep it 3-0.
Liberty immediately responded in the bottom half of the inning, doubling its lead when Robinson belted a three-run homer to right center. The Flames then completed the scoring with an unearned run in the sixth.
Bowen (0-1) recorded the other Manhattan hit and also got the start in the circle. She took the loss after yielding six runs (five earned) on six hits while striking out four and walking four in 4.2 innings. Erin Hamm (Collegeville, Pa.) made her collegiate debut in relief, allowing an unearned run and recording a strikeout in 1.1 no-hit innings.
Brittingham (3-2) tossed a two-hit shutout for the Flames, striking out five and waking three in a complete game effort. Sammi Shivock was the only Liberty player with multiple hits. She went 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI. Robinson was 1-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Zavodny stole three bases and scored twice.
Manhattan will be back in action on Sunday with a 12:30 p.m. doubleheader at Elon (6-5).