Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore

PURCHASE, N.Y. – Junior Ashley Dell (Huntington Station, N.Y./Huntington) hit a walk-off single with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning, as the Manhattanville softball team came back from three runs down to defeat Delaware Valley and complete a two-game sweep in a key Freedom Conference softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Manhattanville Field. The Valiants took the first game by a 2-1 score and then came back for a 4-3 victory in the back end.

While both games had plenty of drama, it was game two that dragged on well past the requisite seven innings and into double digits before the Valiants pulled out the 4-3 win.

With the game tied at three after six, both teams had multiple chances to win the contest in the final five frames. Del Val almost took the lead in the top of the seventh, but senior Nicole Bifulco (Howard Beach, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) raced backwards to make an over-the-shoulder catch on a pop by Allison Tomasino with two outs and the go-ahead run on third. Then in the top of the 11th with an Aggie runner on second, Lynsey Schill (Waterloo, Ont./St. David Catholic) went back to haul in a shot to center after having it initially pop out of her glove, and then turned and fired back to second base for a huge double play.

After some great defensive play, it was only a matter of time before the Valiants finally broke through at the plate.  Sophomore Amanda Locke (Brasher Falls, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central) was placed at second to start the 11th and reached third with one out, and then did a great job of staying in a pickle on a groundout by Schill to allow runners to move to second and third with two down. After an intentional walk to sophomore Jessica Van Galen (Bedford Hills, N.Y./Fox Lane) loaded the bags, Dell sent a rocket deep into the right-field corner that finally ended the contest.

The Dell shot made a winner out of senior Samantha Howe (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./John Jay), who came on in relief and pitched the final five innings. Howe (6-4) did not give up a run and allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out two. Sophomore Michelle Ferlito (Lindenhurst, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) got the start for the Valiants and pitched well despite earning a no-decision, allowing three runs on six hits in six innings.

Delaware Valley scored single runs in the second, third and fifth innings off Ferlito to take a three-run lead, but Manhattanville came back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to even the score.

Bifulco and classmate Lindsay Zekus (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) started the frame with back-to-back singles, followed by Schill reaching on a fielder's choice to load the bases when Bifulco beat a throw to third base. After Van Galen was hit by a pitch to drive in one run, two more came home when DVC catcher Jess Bensinger threw the ball into right field trying to get Dell at first on a double play.

The first game of the day was another one-run victory for the home team, this time coming by a 2-1 score.

Both of Manhattanville's runs came unearned in the first two frames. Bifulco led off the first with a walk and was at second with two down when Van Galen reached on an error by the center fielder, allowing her to score the game's first run. It was sophomore Brianna Scapperotti (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) scoring on a miscue in the second inning, as she led off with a single and came home when DVC pitcher Maggie Kichler threw the ball away trying to get classmate Erin Sidjak (Delta, British Columbia/Burnsview) at first.

Those two runs were plenty for Howe, who allowed just one run and seven hits in a complete-game victory. The senior struck out six Aggies in seven innings and allowed just two runners to reach third base all afternoon. Kichler (0-4) took the hard-luck loss for Delaware Valley, despite allowing just two unearned runs on five hits in six innings.

Manhattanville (6-5, 4-1 Freedom) will make a quick turnaround tomorrow, as the Valiants travel to Union (N.Y.) College for a non-conference doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Delaware Valley (7-9, 1-3 Freedom) will host Arcadia University for two games on Tuesday at 3 p.m.