Manhattan Eliminates Top-Seeded Canisius from Softball Championship
MAAC Sports
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Third-seed Manhattan College escaped with a 2-1 victory over top-seed Canisius College in the 2015 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Softball Championship at Demske Sports Complex in Buffalo, New York on the campus of Canisius College.
A two-run double by Mickayla Romero got Manhattan on the board first for an early two point lead in the top of the first. The game would remain at 2-0 for the next six innings with both teams having opportunities to score but neither executing.
In the bottom of the seventh, with Canisius still down by two points, the Golden Griffins opened the inning with a single from Alexis Roman. The next batter, Bethany DeMarco was walked, to put a player on first and second base with no outs. After Tori Nappo hit a pop up to record the first out, a Samantha Sharkey single through the left side advanced the runners and loaded the bases with Canisius still trailing by two. Jessica Berzins would be next at the plate and her RBI single would cut the deficit to 2-1 but pinch runner Erika Mackie over ran third base and was thrown out for the second out of the inning. Manhattan’s pitcher Amy Bright sealed the deal for Manhattan by striking out Meghan Cuda on three pitches and eliminating the number one seed and host, Cansius.
Bright (15-9) earned the complete game win, throwing 129 pitches and striking out eight batters. Madi Weathers (11-10) only gave up the two runs while striking out one in the loss for Canisius.
Manhattan will play on Friday at 1:30 p.m. against fourth-seed Siena College. Canisius concludes its 2015 season with an overall record of 26-19.