Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Manhattanville softball team erupted for five runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull out an 8-3 win in game two and earn a doubleheader split with Springfield in a non-conference twinbill on Wednesday afternoon at Potter Field.
 
The final game of the day was the exciting one for Manhattanville (8-8), as the Valiants saw a three-run lead slowly evaporate only to come back with five runs in the seventh inning to pull out an 8-3 win.
 
Manhattanville drew first blood in the second game of the day, as the Valiants capitalized on some Springfield miscues to take a 3-0 lead. Freshman Alyx Scapperotti (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) singled and sophomore Rosaria Callara (Scarsdale, N.Y./Scarsdale) reached base on a fielder's choice with one out in the top of the third, and junior Kirsten Savage (Harrington Park, N.J./Old Tappan) followed with a bunt single that was thrown away by the third baseman, allowing both runners to score. Senior Jessica Van Galen (Bedford Hills, N.Y./Fox Lane) followed that up with an RBI single of her own, giving the visitors a three-run edge.
 
Springfield (4-8) got one of those runs back in the bottom of the third, and then added single tallies in the fifth and sixth frames to knot the score. The home team had a great chance in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with no outs, but senior Alyssa Taylor (Craik, Sask./Craik) gave up only a sacrifice fly to Jenna Webb before picking up a strikeout and a fly out to keep the visitors ahead by a run. The Pride managed to tie the game with another run in the sixth, but Taylor again escaped further damage after Melissa Nelson was cut down at home plate to start a 1-2-6 double play, keeping the score tied.
 
But entering the seventh inning, Manhattanville came right back to regain the lead, scoring five times to blow open the close game. Scapperotti started the rally again with a walk, and both Callara and Savage reached on fielder's choices to load the bases for senior Katie Pitcher (Cold Spring, N.Y./Valley Central), who promptly drove in two to make it 5-3 Valiants. Van Galen then delivered the big hit, launching a three-run homer to put the score at 8-3 and finally put the game out of reach.
 
Van Galen was the only Valiant to finish with more than one hit, going 2 for 3 with a homer and a season-high four RBI, and in the process became only the fifth player in program history to reach 100 RBI for a career (101). Scapperotti provided a lift from the bottom of the order, going 1 for 2 with a walk and two runs scored, while Callara and Savage both scored twice at the top of the lineup.
 
Taylor (3-0) earned her third straight win for Manhattanville, working in and out of trouble all game long. The senior allowed three runs on only six hits while striking out six in the complete-game victory. Ashley Marino (1-4) allowed all eight runs (five earned) on six hits to suffer the loss.
 
The Valiants never got a chance to get into the first game of the day, as the Pride scored twice in the first inning and finished with 11 hits in five innings in an 11-1 (5 inn.) win.
 
The game did not start well for Manhattanville, as a pair of errors in the opening frame allowed the Pride to plate two unearned runs. The Valiants got one back in the top of the second inning, as sophomore Laura Montalto (Bronx, N.Y./Preston) led off with a walk and came all the way around on a two-out double by senior Brianna Scapperotti (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison).
 
Springfield struck again for four runs in the third inning to take a five-run lead, as Webb provided the big hit with a three-run homer to center. The home team followed up with five more runs in the fourth inning to help end the game early.
 
Sophomore Kristen Rodopoulos (Scarsdale, N.Y./The Ursuline School) suffered the loss (4-5) for Manhattanville, allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits in three innings, while Pitcher allowed five runs on five hits in one inning of relief. Van Galen did not get a hit in two plate appearances, seeing her season-opening 11-game hitting streak come to an end.
 
Webb had a big game for the home team, going 2 for 3 with a homer, six RBI and two runs scored. Jennifer Joseph (3-3) earned the win in the circle, striking out eight and ceding one run on three hits in five innings.
 
Manhattanville will return to Freedom Conference play on Friday afternoon, as the Valiants make their shortest conference trip of the year to FDU-Florham for two games starting at noon.