Bethany Boxscore
Salve Regina Boxscore

CLERMONT, Fla. – The Manhattanville softball team started its 2011 season with a split at the NTC Spring Games on Saturday, as the Valiants fell to Bethany (W.Va.) College, 7-4, in the first game of the year before coming back to earn a 10-2 (6 inn.) mercy-rule win over Salve Regina University to conclude the day.

Saturday's first game against the Bison was a tough game to lose, as the Valiants had one bad inning and suffered dramatically for it. The Valiants struck first with a run on two hits in the first inning, but all seven Bethany runs came in the second inning, when the Bison had the bases loaded with two outs before an error allowed two runs to score and five more unearned tallies crossed the plate as well to give the team an insurmountable advantage.

Manhattanville got three runs back in the third frame to make it 7-4, but the Valiants could get no closer the rest of the way.

Senior Samantha Howe (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./John Jay) got the start for Manhattanville and allowed all seven runs on seven hits while striking out three in five innings. Sophomore Michelle Ferlito (Lindenhurst, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) pitched a perfect sixth frame for the Valiants to close out the game.

At the plate, senior Lindsay Zekus (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) had a good day with a 3-for-4 showing, while sophomore Jessica Van Galen (Bedford Hills, N.Y./Fox Lane) went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in. Sophomores Brianna Scapperotti (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) and Kim Angiolilo also drove in a run apiece as well.

Manhattanville did rebound in its next game, however, as the Valiants clobbered Salve Regina to the tune of a 10-2 beating that ended the contest one inning early. The Valiants went ahead early with two runs in the second inning before pouring on the offense late, scoring twice in the fourth and fifth frames before ending the game with four more in the sixth.

Nine different Valiants had at least one hit on the day, led by senior Nicole Bifulco (Howard Beach, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) with three hits and three RBIs and sophomore Amanda Locke (Brasher Falls, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central), who drove in three on a pair of base hits. In the circle, Howe tossed a complete game and allowed just one hit and no earned runs to earn her first win of the year.

Manhattanville (1-1, 0-0 Freedom) will be back in action on its second day at the NTC Spring Games on Sunday, as the Valiants play a single game against SUNY Oswego starting at 9:30 a.m.