SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The Manhattan Jaspers softball team (3-12), fell in its doubleheader against the Mustangs from Cal Poly (5-9) by the final scores of 2-0 and 5-4 at Bob Janssen Field on Wednesday afternoon.

GAME ONE: Manhattan 0, Cal Poly 2


Following two scoreless opening innings, the lone hit stood as a leadoff single from Brianna Estevez. 
In the home half of the third, a sacrifice bunt led to an errant throw to score the first run of the game, followed by a sacrifice fly to double the lead.
Even with two runners in scoring positions in the fourth and fifth, starter Natalye DeBus held the Mustangs at bay, keeping the Jaspers within reach.
Lainey Brown got herself within two bases of scoring after a single and Kendall Penny being struck by a pitch.
Sophia Hannappel took a base on balls to load the bases to bring Estevez to the plate.
Loading up a 2-2 count, a groundout to second base ended the matinee.

GAME TWO: Manhattan 4, Cal Poly 5


Kicking off the nightcap was another defensive war, with one total hit through the first two innings similar to the first game.
Estevez tacked on the first hit of the game in the third, advancing to second off a throwing error.
Unable to gain any momentum on the scoreboard, Cal Poly’s bats began to come to life in the fifth, with a two-RBI double highlighting a four-run inning. 
Brown’s sacrifice fly in the sixth scored Samantha Kelly from third, coming all the way around after her leadoff walk. 
After an insurance run from the Mustangs in the sixth, the Jasper offense roared back with back-to-back-to-back scoring plays.
A fielder’s choice from Estevez brought Caitlin Gaetani home after Jamie Falotico’s walk loaded the bases.
Following another groundout from Kelly to score Penny, DeBus singled down the left field to cut the deficit to within one. 
With the tying run at second, Sophia Kiseloski grounded out ot third to end the evening. 

STATS AND NOTES


Freshman utility player Natalye DeBus went the distance in the matinee, allowing no earned runs acros six innings off of two hits, fanning one. 
Junior pitcher Karissa Spring took the brunt of the load in the nightcap, going four and two thirds innings allowing four earned runs and striking out three.
Sophomore utility player Brianna Estevez tallied the most Jasper hits on the day with three, including an RBI in the nightcap.
Freshman infielder Lainey Brown, shortstop Samantha Kelly, utility player DeBus, and Estevez all tied for the most runs batted in with one each.

NEXT UP:

Manhattan will continue its 2026 campaign next Saturday, March 7, when they travel to Staten Island to take on the Seahawks from Wagner. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM from Wagner Softball Field, broadcasted live on NEC Front Row.

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

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