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Manhattan-Saint Francis (PA) Box Score
Manhattan-Temple Box Score
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Manhattan College softball team finally got its 2014 season underway with a pair of contests at the Rebel Spring Games on Friday. After dropping an 8-1 decision against Saint Francis (PA) (10-2), the Jaspers (0-2) fell to Temple (6-10) by a 13-3 count at the DiamondPlex.
Saint Francis (PA) got on the board in the top of the first, then increased its lead to 2-0 on Davina Kachnovitz's double in the fourth. Manhattan cut its deficit in half with a run in the fifth. Andi Stallard (Katy, Texas) smacked a one-out single to center, and Emily Cutler (Bloomingdale, N.J.) followed with a single to left. After Kate Bowen (Newtown, Conn.) struck out, Elena Bowman (San Mateo, Calif.) singled to load the bases. Amanda Paxson (Cedar Grove, N.J.) was then hit by a pitch, forcing in a run.
However, the Red Flash got that run back in the top of the sixth before breaking the game open with a five-spot in the seventh. Lindsey Reid delivered a single with the bases loaded to make it 4-1, and Alexis Bower dealt the big blow with a grand slam two batters later. The Jaspers were unable to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, going down in order.
Manhattan was held to just four hits in the game, two of them by Bowman. Paxson had the Jaspers' only RBI, while Stallard scored the Manhattan run. Amy Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) (0-1) tossed all seven innings in the circle. She yielded eight runs on 11 hits, struck out five and walked four.
Bower went 3-for-4 with a grand slam to pace the Red Flash. Saint Francis (PA) recorded 11 total hits in the game, as Reid, Chelsy Cosentino and Sabrie Neeb all had multi-hit efforts. Reid and Samantha Thomas each scored a pair of runs. Red Flash starter Ketarah DeVries (5-0) surrendered just four hits and one run while striking out six and walking one in a complete game effort.
In the Jaspers' second game of the day, Temple put up 13 runs in the first two innings. The Owls sent 14 batters to the plate in the first, nine of whom came across. The big blow in the inning was a two-run single by Leah Lucas. Temple then added four more runs in the second, with Brooklin White belting a two-run homer.
The Jaspers finally broke through with a three-spot in the top of the fifth. After Bowen reached on an error with one out, Bowman crushed her first home run of the season, a two-run shot that chased Temple starter Amanda Gatt. Reliever Kylie Kristovich retired Paxson before allowing three successive singles, including an RBI base hit by Mickayla Romero (Las Vegas, Nev.). Stallard then popped up for the third out, ending the contest on the run rule.
Six different Jaspers had a hit in the game, with Bowman knocking in a pair of runs on her homer and Romero driving in the other. Bowen (0-1) got the start in the circle and took the loss. She gave up nine runs (five earned) on four hits while walking three in 0.1 innings. Anna Crowley (Eastchester, N.Y.) tossed an inning before Danielle Gabriel (Island Heights, N.J.) finished up with 2.2 innigns of shutout relief in her Manhattan debut. Gabriel didn't allow a hit, struck out two and walked three.
Temple collected 10 hits in the contest, with Sarah Prezioso, Kelsey Dominik and Lucas recording two hits and two RBIs apiece. Prezioso also scored three runs, while White had three RBIs and two runs scored. Toni Santos and Annie Marcopolus each added two runs. Gatt (2-1) got the win after tossing the first 4.1 innings. She surrendered two runs (one earned) on three hits, struck out three and walked two. Kristovich yielded one run on three hits in 0.2 innings.
Manhattan has two more games scheduled for Saturday. The Jaspers take on Akron (5-2) at 12 p.m. before a 4 p.m. matchup with Utah Valley (0-13).
