Box Score EDWARDSVILLE, Pa. – Junior Alyssa Taylor (Craik, Sask./Craik) made contributions at the plate and in the circle as the third-seeded Manhattanville softball team started off its 2013 Freedom Conference Tournament with a 7-2 win over second-seeded King's (Pa.) on Friday afternoon at the Ralston Athletic Complex.
 
Manhattanville (22-17, 8-6 Freedom) moves into the winner's bracket with its first-ever opening-game win, and will take on top-seeded DeSales later this afternoon beginning at approximately 4 p.m. King's (23-8, 11-3 Freedom) drops into the loser's bracket and will face FDU-Florham in an elimination contest tomorrow morning.
 
Taylor led the way both at the plate and in the circle for the Valiants, going 2 for 3 with two RBI and a run scored while also allowing two runs in 5.1 innings to earn the win. Senior Jessica Van Galen (Bedford Hills, N.Y./Fox Lane) went 1 for 4 with two RBI, while senior Katie Pitcher (Cold Spring, N.Y./Valley Central) and junior Shauna Mulkerin (Branchburg, N.J./Immaculata) had two hits each to lead an 11-hit attack.
 
King's struck first in the bottom of the second inning, when Nicolette Pizzo delivered a two-out single up the middle to score Maggie Gola. Manhattanville got that run back in the top of the fourth thanks to Taylor, who helped her own cause by sending an Annie Erndl offering over the fence in straight-away center to even the score.
 
After four innings of little offense from both teams, the Valiants erupted for six runs in the fifth inning to break open a close contest. Juniors Kirsten Savage (Harrington Park, N.J./Old Tappan) and Mulkerin started the rally with back-to-back singles, and Savage came home after beating out a throw to the plate on a bunt by senior Brianna Scapperotti (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison). Sophomore Laura Montalto (Bronx, N.Y./Preston) followed with an RBI single up the middle that scored Mulkerin, but the Valiants' momentum seemed to be stopped when sophomore Rosaria Callara (Scarsdale, N.Y./Scarsdale) was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second.
 
However, the offense continued with three straight doubles to add four more runs to the board. King's inexplicably pitched to Van Galen with two in scoring position and first base open, and the Freedom Player of the Year responded with a  two-run double to right. Taylor then doubled to score Van Galen, and Pitcher followed with a run-scoring double of her own to make it 7-1.
 
The Lady Monarchs threatened to get back in the game in the bottom of the sixth, scoring once and loading the bases with one out. But sophomore Kristen Rodopoulos (Scarsdale, N.Y./The Ursuline School) came on in relief of Taylor and, in her first appearance since April 17, induced an infield ground out and a fly out to center to quell the threat and keep the Valiants up by five and send the Valiants to the win.
 
Taylor (12-3) finished the game with just four hits allowed in 5.1 innings in addition to her two runs (one earned). Rodopoulos earned the huge save for the Valiants, retiring all five batters she faced over the final 1.2 frames.