ELON, N.C. - The Manhattan College softball team rallied from a 7-1 deficit to tie game one of a doubleheader at Elon on Sunday. However, the Jaspers (0-3) lost, 8-7, on a walk-off home run, then fell to the Phoenix (8-5) by a 10-5 score in the nightcap of the twinbill at Hunt Softball Park.
After Elon scored three runs in the bottom of the first in game one, the Jaspers got on the board when Meghan McDevitt (Nutley, N.J.) homered to left center leading off the third inning. However, Tomeka Watson and Johanna Spencer hit back-to-back home runs for the Phoenix in the bottom of the third, increasing Elon's lead to 5-1. The Phoenix then tacked on a pair in the fourth inning.
Manhattan began its comeback in the top of the sixth. Amanda Babcock (Haverstraw, N.Y.) drew a one-out walk, then Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.) followed with her first home run of the year, a two-run shot to right center. Elena Bowman (San Mateo, Calif.) was up next, and she ripped a single through the left side. After moving to second on a groundout, Bowman was lifted for pinch runner Emily Cutler (Bloomingdale, N.J.). Cutler later scored on a single by Andi Stallard (Katy, Texas) before a McDevitt popup ended the inning.
Now trailing 7-4, the Jaspers scored three times in the seventh to tie the game. Jen Keller (Woodridge, N.J.) started the inning with a double, then Amanda Paxson (Cedar Grove, N.J.) drew a walk. After the runners moved to second and third on a groundout, Babcock sent an RBI double through the left side. Bowen followed with a single that drove in a pair, tying the contest at 7-7. However, Spencer led off the bottom of the seventh and blasted her second home run of the game, giving the Phoenix an 8-7 victory.
Manhattan collected 10 hits in the game, with Babcock, Bowen, Stallard and Keller contributing two hits apiece. Babcock was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Bowen went 2-for-4 with a run scored and four RBIs. Amy Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) got the start in the circle and lasted 3.1 innings. She allowed seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits while striking out four. Erin Hamm (Collegeville, Pa.) (0-1) took the loss after surrendering one run and three hits in 2.2 innings.
Five different Elon players had multi-hit games, led by Spencer's 4-for-4 effort. She hit a pair of home runs and knocked in four. Watson was 2-for-4 with three runs scored, and Carleigh Nester scored twice. Eve Clausen went six innings in the circle for Elon, yielding five runs on eight hits while striking out three and walking one. Karen Berna came in during the seventh and was credited with the win after giving up two runs and two hits in one inning of work. She also recorded a strikeout.
Elon struck early again in game two, putting up one run in the first and five in the second. The Jaspers battled back with two in the top of the third, though. Babcock started the inning with a single to center and moved to second when Bowman walked. Manhattan then got on the board when Babcock scored on Mickayla Romero's (Las Vegas, Nev.) single. After Keller walked to load the bases, Paxson worked a walk of her own, driving in the Jaspers' second run.
However, the Phoenix immediately responded with a four-spot in the bottom of the third to increase their lead to 10-2. The Jaspers got two of those runs back in the top of the fourth, with Whitmore and Babcock both crossing the plate on passed balls. Manhattan rallied again in the fifth, putting runners on first and second with two down, but Bowen grounded out to end the inning. The Jaspers did add another run on Babcock's RBI single in the seventh to make the final score 10-5.
Babcock had three of Manhattan's 10 hits in game two, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Seven Jasper starters contributed at least one hit, and Cutler went 2-for-4. Kelsi Redding (Tucson, Ariz.) (0-1) took the loss after yielding six runs (two earned) on three hits with five walks and a pair of strikeouts in 1.2 innings. Bright tossed 4.1 innings of relief, giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits while walking one.
Nester, Watson and Amanda Allen had two hits apiece, as the Phoenix belted nine hits as a team. Nester, Allen and Lauren Oldham each scored twice, while Watson drove in three runs and Grace Eng added a pair of RBIs. Caitlin O'Shea tossed the first three innings for Elon. She allowed two runs on five hits, walked five and struck out one. Berna (3-1) came out of the bullpen and earned her second win of the day, surrendering three runs (one earned) on five hits, striking out three and walking two in four innings of work.
The Jaspers now have 10 days off before returning to action. Manhattan's home opener against St. John's (3-12-1) gets underway at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13 at Gaelic Park.