ELON, N.C. – The Manhattan Jaspers softball team (2-5), took a split in their first day at the Elon Softball Invitational, dropping against the Flyers from Dayton (5-1) and taking a win over the Phoenix of Elon (1-6) by the final scores of 10-1 and 9-4 at Hunt Softball Park on Friday afternoon.

GAME ONE: Manhattan 1, Dayton 10


Dayton’s Katelin Goodwin drove home two runs with her deep shot in the opening frame with one out.
That was the lone score that pitcher Karissa Spring gave up through the fourth inning, retiring six straight in the third and fourth.
A three-run fifth from the Flyers put Dayton up five, as Abby Turnpaugh came in relief.
In the home half of the fifth, Natalye DeBus drove home Kalyn Markel from second base, with the inning ending as Brianna Estevez got caught at second. 
Allowing a leadoff single in the sixth, Turnpaugh kept the Flyers at bay with sitting down her next three batters.
Dayton added five runs of insurance in the seventh, putting a stamp on the matinee.

GAME TWO: Manhattan 9, Elon 4


In a similar tune to the opening contest, Elon brought the first score home via groundout in the bottom of the first.
Manhattan ripped off a seven-run second inning to respond, kicked off by Kendall Penny doubling to left center to tie the game.
Jamie Falotico then gave the Jaspers their first lead in either game, scoring Penny and Caitlin Gaetani on a double of her own.
With DeBus and Sophia Kiseloski bringing runs home off of a walk and fielder’s choice, freshmen Kaitlyn Moody and Lainey Brown ripped a pair of singles to bring the final number to seven.
Gaetani opened the game in the circle, keeping the Phoenix at one on the scoreboard through three.
Her sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth scored Moody, stretching the Green and White lead to seven at 8-1.
Following an RBI double from the Phoenix, Kiselowki and Gaetani switched spots, with the former going to the circle and the latter to first base.
Kiseloski sat down her first six batters faced, not bending until a two out single in the sixth.
Elon scored two in the home half of the seventh, but it wasn’t enough as Manhattan secured their second win of the season.

STATS AND NOTES


Freshman infielder Lainey Brown tallied the most hits on the day, with three in the nightcap including an RBI.
Senior infielder Jamie Falotico’s two-run double tied her with Freshman third baseman Natalye DeBus for most RBI on the day with two.
Freshman utility player Caitlin Gaetani’s four strikeouts led the way, allowing two earned runs on three and two-thirds innings pitched.
Senior utility player Sophia Kiseloski accumulated her second win on the season, allowing two earned runs off three hits.

NEXT UP:

Manhattan will continue its 2026 campaign tomorrow, Saturday, February 14 when the Jaspers continue play from the Tar Heel State against Delaware State. Action will get underway at 9:30 AM with no video broadcast available, live statistics can be found here.

Follow Manhattan Softball on X (@JaspersSoftball) and Instagram (@jasperssoftball). 

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