Softball | 1/9/2020 11:46:00 AM

PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College softball team released its 2020 campaign today, Jan. 9. The Valiants return to the Skyline Conference for the first time since the 2007 season. During its final season, Manhattanville won the Skyline Championship and received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Valiants are coming off their fourth straight Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom title. The team will be led by 2019 MAC Freedom Coach of the Year Dale Martin, as he enters his 14th season.
 
Manhattanville will open up play in Clermont, Fla., from March 8-13 in The Spring Games. The Valiants will first face Husson University on March 8. The only time these two have faced each other was during another spring tournament back in 2008 when the Valiants won 8-0. On the same day, after Husson, Manhattanville will take on Rhodes College for the first time ever. On March 9, the Crimson and White will play Westminster College for the first time and later in the day will take on Meredith College for the second time. The following day, the team will see Haverford College and first-time foe Alfred University. The Valiants will try even the all-time series between themselves and Haverford as they trail 2-1. 
 
The next day of play will be on March 12, when Manhattanville will take on Coe College and Catholic University. The Valiants will play the Kohawks for the first time in 12 years and the Cardinals for the first time ever. On the last day of the tournament, the Valiants will face Clarkson University and Lesley University. Manhattanville has not yet played Clarkson but this will be the third time playing Lesley. The series between the two teams is currently tied 1-1.
 
After a two-week break, the squad will start conference play at home against Farmingdale State College on Mar. 28. The Valiants lead the series 14-4, however, the Rams have won the last three meetings. The next day, Manhattanville will face Yeshiva University. The Valiants will be the road team though the game will be played at the Manhattanville Softball Field. This will be the first time the two teams will go head to head.
 
The Valiants will take a four game break from conference play and go on the road to see Western Connecticut State University on April 1, and then Rutgers University-Newark on April 2. Manhattanville trails the Colonials 20-9 in the all-time series but most recently swept them in 2019. The Valiants lead the Scarlet Raiders 3-0 in the all-time series, beating them 7-2 and 13-1 last season.
 
On April 4, Manhattanville will return home to host Skyline foe Mount Saint Mary College. The two programs have played each other 37 times and Manhattanville has won 28, including a sweep last season.The Valiants will host another Skyline matchup the next day on April 5. They will take on St. Joseph's College-Long Island for the first time since 2007.
 
Next, the team will play out of conference and visit William Paterson University on April 8; the Valiants have won the last six meetings. After facing the Pioneers, the Valiants will host two home double-headers. One conference matchup between St. Joseph's College-Brooklyn on April 10 and a non-conference twin bill against former MAC Freedom foe FDU-Florham on April 15. The Bears and Manhattanville will meet each other for the first time, while the Valiants have won the last 10 meetings against the Devils. 
 
After, Manhattanville will hit the road for three series. The first of the stretch will be a non-conference pair on April 16 against Arcadia University. The following two will be conference opponents Sarah Lawrence College on April 18 and the College of Mount Saint Vincent on April 19. The Valiants and Gryphons have never played each other but this will be the 38th time they face the Dolphins. Mount Saint Vincent has not beaten Manhattanville since 1991.
 
The last non-conference matchup of the season will be on April 21, as Manhattanville hosts the Stevens Institute of Technology. Last season was the first time the two programs faced each other and Manhattanville swept the series. The last home date of the regular season will be against the College at Old Westbury on April 25. The finale will be played down the road at Purchase College on April 26. Manhattanville leads both teams in the all-time series. The Valiants lead Old Westbury 20-4 and are 3-0 against the Panthers. 
 
The Skyline Conference Tournament is set to start on April 28 and go through May 2.