CLERMONT, Fla. – The Manhattanville College softball team split another day of play in the Spring Games yesterday, Mar. 10. The Valiants fell to Haverford College 3-2 on a walk off and later in the evening defeated Alfred University 1-0. Their lone run scored came in the bottom of the third when senior Melina Strano (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster) ran in after the Saxons made an error on junior Isela Casillas (Chula Vista, Calif./Eastlake) bunt.
 
The Valiants (4-2) took the early lead over Haverford (3-3) as they scored a pair of runs in the top of the first. Freshman Jayleen Torres (Bellflower, Calif./Downey) was on third base and Casillas was sitting on second when senior Jaclyn DeLuca (Yonkers, N.Y./Sacred Heart (H.S.)) was at bat. DeLuca singled a ball up the middle of the field and advanced to second on the throw. She batted in both Casillas and Torres to put them ahead 2-0.
 
Manhattanville then held the Fords scoreless for three innings. In the bottom of the first Torres caught a pop fly and turned it into a double play when she got the runner on second out. The Valiants made another double play in the bottom of the second when Ford lined out to freshman Mahkenzy Lewis (Beaumont, Calif./Beaumont). She then threw the ball into sophomore Giovanna Liggett (Fountain Valley, Calif./Edison) on second to snag the double play.
 
The Crimson and White got two more hits off from the third inning on but it wasn't enough to add another run to the board. Haverford tied the score up in the sixth inning and walked off with the win in the bottom of the seventh.
 
The day took a turn for the better when the Valiants faced Alfred (3-3) later that day, although Manhattanville didn't get a hit off until the bottom of the third. Strano started the rally for the Valiants after she hit a double to right center. Strano then came home when Casillas bunted and was able to advance to second base off of an error. Casillas and sophomore Julia Bucci (Rye Brook, N.Y./Blind Brook) were left on third and second base to end the inning.
 
Manhattanville had only two more hits throughout the game and they were made by Strano and Casillas. Junior Jasmine Feliciano (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) came into the game to pitch at the top of the fourth and assisted on three quick outs. The outs were one fly out to Casillas and two pop flies to junior Brooke Franson (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) and freshman Dani Nii (Orange, Calif./El Modena). The top of the fifth was another quick three batters for the Saxons as the Valiants made two more fly outs and a ground out.
 
Manhattanville will take a day break in Florida and return to play tomorrow, Mar. 12. They will face Coe College at 10:00 a.m. and Catholic University at 12:15 p.m. These games will now be played in Leesburg, Fla. in the Sleepy Hollow Complex.