Bowman Goes Deep Twice In Loss to Samford

QUEENS, NY – Elena Bowman (San Mateo, CA) had her first multi-home run game of the year on Saturday morning.  However, her two blasts were not enough, as the Manhattan College softball team (8-7) dropped an 8-6 decision to Samford (13-12) in the St. John's Invitational at Red Storm Field.

After Samford took an early lead with three runs in the top of the first, the Jaspers got one back in the second.  Kat Prevo (San Diego, CA) tripled with two out and scored on a passed ball.  Bowman then ripped a solo shot to right center in the bottom of the third, bringing Manhattan within 3-2.  Jenn Vazquez (Fairfield, CT) followed with a single before Briana Matazinsky (Valley Falls, NY) doubled.  Stephanie Reinhardt (Albany, NY) then lifted a sacrifice fly to right that evened the score at 3-3.

Samford immediately countered with a two-spot in the top of the fourth, and the Bulldogs added two more in the sixth to make it 7-3.  Shannon Puthe (Mullica Hill, NJ) manufactured a run in the bottom of the sixth.  After drawing a leadoff walk, she stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Dominique Palagruto's (Sewell, NJ) sacrifice fly.  Andi Stallard (Katy, Texas) then delivered a pinch-hit single.  She moved to second on Alexa Dawid's (Milford, CT) groundout, bringing up Bowman. 

Despite having a base open, Samford chose to pitch to her, and she crushed a two-run homer to center field that brought the Jaspers within 7-6.  Manhattan put the tying run on second, as Vazquez singled and Matazinsky walked, but Reinhardt lined out to end the inning.

The Bulldogs picked up an insurance tally on a solo home run by Lexie Higgins leading off the seventh.  Prevo walked leading off the bottom half of the inning, but she was erased on a fielder's choice.  Molly Hanson then struck out the final two Jaspers she faced to nail down an 8-6 Samford victory.

As a team, Manhattan collected eight hits in the game.  Bowman had a single to go along with her two homers and three RBIs, while Vazquez was 2-for-3 with a walk.  Stephanie Kristo (San Jose, CA) started in the circle for the Jaspers and allowed three runs on two hits and a walk.  Matazinsky (2-3) took the loss after yielding four runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out five and walking two over 4.2 innings.  Erin Hamm (Collegeville, PA) worked the final 1.1 innings, surrendering one run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts.

For Samford, Shelby Maze finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs.  Abbie Miranda went 2-for-4 with four RBIs, and she also scored a run, while Higgins was 2-for-4 with a home run.  Annalyn Yantis (1-0) earned the win after giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits and five walks in 5.2 innings.  Rebecca Leonard was charged with one hit and two walks in 0.1 innings before Hanson came in and earned the save.