WILKES-BARRE, PA. – Needing a win to secure a spot in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Championship game(s), the top-seed Manhattanville College softball team took care of Misericordia University Friday afternoon, May 3, in a 6-1 victory thanks to a big four-run fourth inning.
 
The Valiants (39-2) and Cougars (29-11) entered the day ranked seventh and fifth in the most recent Division III East Regional rankings, respectively, but Manhattanville dispatched Misericordia to advance to the MAC Freedom title game(s) and own the 2-1 advantage in the season series.
 
After the two squads went scoreless in the first three and a half innings, the Valiants finally touched up the scoreboard with a four-spot in the home half of the fourth. Senior Evonne Torres (Hacienda Heights, Calif./Pioneer) led off the inning with a first-pitch double to right centerfield and, after junior Steph Muller (Port Jervis, N.Y./Port Jervis) entered as a pinch runner, senior Aarin Hartenstein (Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) singled up the middle to plate Muller on the play – and advance to second. Then, with one out and Hartenstein on third, senior Sophia Chapelone (Carlsbad, Calif./La Costa Canyon) stepped to the plate before taking the Cougar pitcher deep to left for a two-run shot to make it 3-1. The last run of the inning came with two outs and runners on second and third. Rookie Giovanna Liggett (Fountain Valley, Calif./Edison) hit a single to right to plate the speedy sophomore Brooke Franson (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) from second.
 
Misericordia scratched across its one and only run in the top of the fifth, but did no more damage, and then the Valiants went up 6-1 in the bottom of the inning. Torres and Hartenstein led off with back-to-back singles. Sophomore Jordyn Boyd (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville) hit an easy fly ball to right the next at-bat, which allowed the runners to tag and advance. The Cougar rightfielder threw to third and the third baseman tried to catch Hartenstein at second in a run down, but an errant throw allowed Torres to score from third.
 
Manhattanville will return to action tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, May 4, at 1:00 p.m. for the MAC Freedom title game. The Valiants will face the winner of tomorrow's 11:00 a.m. game between Misericordia and the winner of today's DeSales University/Wilkes University game. If necessary, a second championship series game is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Saturday as well – the MAC Freedom Tournament is double-elimination.