HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson softball team fell to Manhattan on Wednesday afternoon at the FDU Softball Field in both halves of a doubleheaders.
Manhattan (31-17) scored three runs in the third inning in game one and five in the third in game to take the lead for good versus Fairleigh Dickinson (5-35) in both contests.
Game 1: Manhattan 11, Fairleigh Dickinson 3
Both teams were held off the board in the first two innings of game one as both starters – Nicole Williams for Manhattan and
Baylee Ports for Fairleigh Dickinson – only allowed one hit each over the first two frames.
The Jaspers struck first in the third – all three were unearned to Ports. A walk with two outs by Briana Matazinsky put two aboard for the Jaspers to bring up Lauren Pitney. Pitney hit a pop up that was misplayed by the Knights that allowed Shannon Puthe to score.
Jenn Vasquez followed with a two-out-two-RBI single to center that brought in Matazinsky and Pitney.
The Knights would get to within a run in the bottom of the fourth innings.
Kellie Natham out a two-run homer run over the center field wall to make it a 3-2 game. It was Natham's fourth of the season and 20th and 21st RBI of the season.
Manhattan quickly restored its lead to multiple runs in the top of the fifth. The Jaspers put six up on the board to take a 9-2 lead. Vazquez hit a two-run homer to center field. Stephanie Reinhardt had an RBI single, a double steal plated a run and a two-run single from Matazinsky concluded the scoring.
In the bottom half of the inning, got a two-out double from
Reanna Cervantes and a walk by
Summer Mendoza to bring up Serene Meehan. The sophomore slapped a single down the left field line that allowed Cervantes to score, to make it 9-3. It was Meehan's seventh RBI of the season.
Manhattan tacked on two more insurance runs – unearned – in the top of the seventh.
Three different Knights have multi-hit games; Cervantes, Meehan and
Madison Emerson.
Ports (0-5) went three innings and allowed the three unearned runs while striking out three and allowing three hits.
Erica Johnson allowed six runs over two innings and Emerson pitched the final two innings and allowed two runs – both unearned.
Williams (10-6) went four and two-thirds to get the win. Stephanie Kristo finished the final two and a third.
Game 2: Manhattan 7, Fairleigh Dickinson 2
Fairleigh Dickinson got on the board first in the second game of the afternoon. The Knights got three straight singles to start the game from
Reanna Cervantes,
Summer Mendoza and
Serena Meehan. The single run in the inning came in when
Madison Emerson grounded into a double play.
After a quiet second inning, Manhattan sent nine hitters to the plate and scored five times. Three straight RBI singles and heads up base running led to the first three. A fielder's choice and an error brought in the fourth and fifth runs of the frame.
Emerson singled down the left-field line – one of her three hits – to bring in
Stephanie Collins to make it 5-2. After a walk to
Kellie Natham the bases were loaded with two outs, but
Cheryl Lopez popped up to short to leave them loaded.
Manhattan would score once in the sixth and seventh to provide extra insurance. The Knights did get two runners on in the sixth – Natham on via an error and an
Ana Hayes Walk – but both were stranded when the inning was over.
Ports (0-6) went the full seven innings for Fairleigh Dickinson in the circle. The sophomore surrendered 10 hits and six earned runs. Briana Matazinsky (14-5) went five to get the win while giving up only one earned run and five hits.
The Knights are scheduled to play Monmouth on Friday in a doubleheader at FDU Softball Field starting at 2 p.m. Fairleigh Dickinson will conclude its season against Sacred Heart on Saturday with a doubleheader that will start at 1 p.m. at the FDU Softball Field.
