Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CLERMONT, Fla. – The Manhattanville softball team started the 2013 season with its first day of competition at the NTC Spring Games on Friday afternoon, splitting two games against Susquehanna and Anna Maria at the National Training Center. The Valiants dropped their first game of the year, 4-2, to the Crusaders, before rebounding for a resounding 10-1 mercy-rule win over the Lady AMCATS.
 
In the Valiants' 2013 opener against Susquehanna, sophomore Kristen Rodopoulos (Scarsdale, N.Y./The Ursuline School) got the start for Manhattanville and pitched well, but the Valiant bats could not muster enough offense in the 4-2 loss.
 
Rodopoulos (0-1) suffered the loss for the Valiants, going the distance and giving up four runs on seven hits in seven innings, while also striking out seven Crusaders.
 
At the plate, senior Jessica Van Galen (Bedford Hills, N.Y./Fox Lane) picked up right where she left off last season, smacking her first home run of the year.
 
Manhattanville bounced back quickly from the loss, however, as the Valiants overpowered Anna Maria in the 10-1 (5 inn.) victory.
 
Senior Alyssa Taylor (Craik, Sask./Craik) led the squad in the circle, allowing only one unearned run on four hits. Taylor (1-0) also struck out a career-high nine batters in the win.
 
Van Galen and sophomore Laura Montalto (Bronx, N.Y./Preston) paced the Valiant offensive attack in the mercy-rule win. Montalto went 2 for 3 with a double and a triple, while Van Galen drove in two more runs.
 
Manhattanville (1-1) will be back for its second day at the NTC Spring Games tomorrow, when the Valiants take on Northwestern College at 1 p.m. and St. Lawrence at 3 p.m.