CLERMONT, Fla. – The Manhattanville College softball team concluded its spring break trip on Friday, Mar. 13. The Valiants split the final day of play as they fell first to Clarkson University 4-2 and later on took down Lesley College 5-1. Manhattanville finished spring break nationally ranked at No. 22 and with a record of 7-3.
 
When the Valiants (7-3) took on Clarkson (3-3) early Friday morning, sophomore Giovanna Liggett (Fountain Valley, Calif./Edison) hit a home run to start the game off. Liggett was the only hit in the top of the first and it gave Manhattanville a 1-0 lead. The Golden Knights responded in the bottom of the first scoring all four of their runs.
 
The final run the Valiants batted was in the top of the second. With two outs on the board senior Jaclyn DeLuca (Yonkers, N.Y./Sacred Heart (H.S.)) stepped up to the plate and hit a single. She then stole second base and waited for fellow senior Melina Strano (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster) to bat her in. Strano hit a single and sent DeLuca home for the Valiant's second run. Strano advanced to second on the throw but wasn't able to come home by the end of the inning.
 
Junior Jasmine Feliciano (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) struck two batters out in the bottom of the second swinging as another batter flied out to junior Isela Casillas (Chula Vista, Calif./Eastlake) in center field. The Valiants held Clarkson scoreless for the remainder of the game with their tough fielding but they could not add any runs to the board to take the lead.
 
After the Crimson and White took the close loss against the Golden Knights, later against Lesley (1-9) the Valiants sporadic scoring helped them take home the win. Manhattanville allowed the Lynx's to get one hit off in the top of the first but replied with two runs in the bottom of the first. After freshman Dani Nii (Orange, Calif./El Modena) was walked Liggett hit a two run homerun after she hit her second homerun of the day.
 
The Valiants scored two more runs in the bottom of the third when three Manhattanville players were on base. Liggett found herself on third, DeLuca on second and freshman Mahkenzy Lewis (Beaumont, Calif./Beaumont) on first when freshman Jayleen Torres (Bellflower, Calif./Downey) was up at bat. Torres hit a single and sent home Ligget and DeLuca to make the score 4-0.
 
The Crimson and White held the Lynxs scoreless for two more at bats. After they gave up a run in the top of the sixth the Valiants countered with a run when they got the chance to bat. Senior Steph Muller (Port Jervis, N.Y./Port Jervis) hit a single and put herself on second after she stole it. Muller made it to third after a teammate hit a ground out. Nii sacrificed flied out center field to send Muller home.
 
Lesley couldn't get any hits off in the top of the seventh after they popped out to Nii and flied out twice to sophomore Maddie Saunders (Oxnard, Calif./Santa Clara) in right field. The Valiants finished their last game of spring break on top with a 5-1 win.
 
Due to COVID-19 the remainder of the Valiants season was canceled on Mar. 13. The softball team had a successful start to their season as they were nationally ranked prior to the games at No. 25 and moved up the rankings to No. 22 by their third day of play. Manhattanville athletics appreciates and acknowledges all of the players and coaches hard work they put into the preparation for the season and thanks you, especially the senior athletes. For more information on the cancelation of the Spring 2020 season please read more here.