Manhattan Eliminates Monmouth, 4-2, To Advance
MAAC Sports
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Manhattan College pitcher Amy Bright scattered four hits and struck out six as the Jaspers defeated Monmouth University 4-2 on Friday to advance in the 2014 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Softball Championship at Fairfield University’s Alumni Stadium.
The 6th-seeded Jaspers will now face #5-seed Siena on Saturday (time to be announced). The loss was Monmouth’s second in the championship and eliminated the Hawks, who finished the year with a 22-21 record, while the victory snapped Manhattan’s six-game losing streak in MAAC Softball Championship action, dating back to the 2009 tournament.
The durable Bright yielded single runs to Monmouth in the first and third innings, and only allowed two runners to reach scoring position after the third inning. The victory raised her record to 9-15 this season. Manhattan is now 23-28.
Manhattan broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the fifth as Amanda Paxson drilled an RBI single down the right field line to plate the Jaspers’ third run. Andi Stallard then delivered an insurance run RBI for the Jaspers on an infield groundout.
Monmouth opened the scoring with a single run in the first when leadoff hitter Nikki Sandelier, who reached when she was hit by a Bright pitch, scored on a sacrifice fly by Justene Reyes.
The Jaspers took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third as Paxson ripped a two-run double down the right field line after Emily Cutler opened the frame with a walk, and Kate Bowen followed with a single.
The Hawks tied the game in the bottom of the third when Shannon Fitzgerald scored on Vannessa Cardoza’s infield single.
Losing pitcher Sydney Underhill went the distance for the Hawks, scattering six hits with one strikeout and three walks. Underhill, a freshman righty who did a majority of the pitching for Monmouth throughout the season, finished the year with an 18-15 record.
The game began at 1:45 p.m. following a four hour, 45-minute rain delay.