LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Manhattan Jaspers softball team (5-14, 1-1 MAAC), went 1-1 in its two games against the Broncs from Rider (7-12, 2-3 MAAC) to open the MAAC portion of their schedule, by the final scores of 15-10 and 4-5 at Herb & Joan Young Field on Saturday afternoon.

GAME ONE: Manhattan 15, Rider 10


Despite the high run total from the Jaspers, it was Rider with the hot start on the afternoon, scoring the game’s first four runs highlighted by a two-run jack in the second inning.
Natalye DeBus broke the game open for Manhattan with a three-run shot of her own in the third, scoring both Samantha Kelly and Brianna Estevez to cut the deficit back down to one. 
With two more scores to bulk up the Bronc advantage in the fourth, Kelly’s sacrifice fly started a four-run fifth inning for the Jaspers.
Following Sophia Kiseloski’s single down the line to once again bring the margin down to one, Lainey Brown sent a ball over the fence herself, giving the Green and White their first lead of the afternoon at 7-6 before going to the home half of the fifth. 
Combining for eight total runs in the frame, Rider responded with a four-run sequence themselves, taking a 10-7 edge into the sixth.
Estevez and Kiseloski got things going with a pair of RBI singles to bring their deficit back to one.
A wild pitch scored Kelly to knot the contest at 10-all, followed by a Kaitlyn Moody RBI single to take the lead once again.
After Kendall Penny was nailed by a pitch with the bases loaded to increase that advantage to two, Jamie Falotico ripped a triple down the line in right field, clearing the bases and completing an eight-run inning for the visitors.
Even with all the game’s offense, DeBus closed the game out over the final three innings, allowing only two earned runs off three hits and striking out four to end the matinee.

GAME TWO: Manhattan 4, Rider 5


Contrary to game one, Manhattan were the ones to get the scoring started in the nightcap, as an error off a live ball from Penny scored Brown to break the ice, followed by a Falotico single to double the early advantage.
An RBI groundout from the Broncs slashed that in half, staying 2-1 at the end of the third frame.
For the second time on the day, Brown connected for another home run in the top of the fourth, giving the Jaspers three in the run column.
Fighting back in the fifth, Rider used an RBI double and a dropped fly ball to tie the game at three-all. 
Now being the second Jasper to accomplish this feat on the day, DeBus put Manhattan back in front by sending a ball over the right field fence in the sixth.
In the seventh and final inning, a double tied the game just three batters in for Rider.
With one out and two runners in scoring position, a single to center field brought the winning run to the plate, ending the nightcap 5-4 in favor of the Broncs.

STATS AND NOTES


Freshman utility player Natalye DeBus displayed her two-way versatility again on Saturday, tallying four RBI while pitching in both games, earning the win in the first and the loss in the second, going for a total of 9.1 innings. 
Freshman infielder Lainey Brown followed closely behind with her offensive production, knocking two home runs out of the park en route to three RBI off four hits.
DeBus also finished the day with the most strikeouts amongst her Jasper teammates with nine.

NEXT UP:

Manhattan will continue its 2026 campaign tomorrow, March 15, when they finish their stint in New Jersey to take on the Broncs from Rider to finish their three game set. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM from Herb and Joan Young Field, broadcasted live on BroncVision.

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

Read Full Article