RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The 2023 softball season gets underway for Manhattan this weekend in Louisiana for the Mardi Gras Mambo.
The Jaspers will play five games from Friday to Saturday. The Jaspers open with Southeastern Louisiana and Louisiana Tech on Friday. Manhattan will meet Northwestern State (La.) and Houston Christian on Saturday. The final game of the weekend, on Sunday, is against Nicholls.
"We are very excited for our season opener this weekend. We have had a solid few weeks of practice and are ready to put it all together on the field," said head coach
Cat Clifford.
Manhattan enters its second year under Clifford. The Jaspers went 13-32 last season and 7-13 in MAAC play.
Lauren Rende returns for the Jaspers after earning All-MAAC honors last year. Rende was a Second Team All-MAAC selection last year for the Jaspers and returns in 2023 for her senior season. The all-league honor last year was Rende's first. Last season, Rende led the Jaspers in average (.345), runs scored (26), hits (48), doubles (8), total bases (61), stolen bases (10), and starts (42).
Kaitlyn Flood and
Megan Hedlund return for the Jaspers. Both started 39 games in 2022. Flood finished last season second on the team in hits (31), RBI (14), and doubles (6). Flood was third on the Jaspers with a .263 average. Hedlund led the team in RBI (24) and home runs (8) and was second on the team in slugging percentage (.518) and total bases (57).
Four Jaspers return who logged innings in the circle last season.
Ava Metzger and
Marika Deemer logged most of the four. Metzger tossed 89.2 innings in her freshman season, and Deemer recorded 64.
Clifford and the Jaspers welcome five freshmen to the program this season. Four hail from New Jersey;
Sophia Kiseloski,
Jamie Falotico,
Makayla Veneziale, and
Maddy Weir.
Bella Cahueque comes to Riverdale from Upland, Calif.
Clifford added, "There is a talented group of newcomers, including an addition to our pitching staff KK, and our returnees bring a wealth of experience and leadership. This group has bought into each other all year, and we are excited to be challenged this weekend."
After the Jaspers play the first five in Louisiana, they will come home for doubleheaders against Hartford and Central Connecticut State. The Jaspers will then hit the road to Texas Tech on Mar. 10-12 for five games against New Mexico, Texas Tech, and Buffalo.
Manhattan opens MAAC play at Siena on Sunday, Apr. 2, with a doubleheader. The Jaspers host the Stags of Fairfield on Saturday, Apr. 8, for the first home MAAC doubleheader. The regular season finale for Manhattan is Saturday, May 6, against Quinnipiac at Gaelic Park.
For the latest on the Manhattan College softball program, follow the Jaspers on Twitter and Instagram @JaspersSoftball.
