COLUMBUS, Ga. – Closing out the NFCA DIII Leadoff Classic, the Manhattanville College softball team dropped a pair of games on Sunday to nationally-ranked opponents. The Valiants fell to No. 15 Berry 12-4 in six innings before dropping a 3-0 contest to No. 2 Texas Lutheran to close out the first weekend of the season with a 1-5 record.

Game One Recap: Manhattanville 4, No. 15 Berry 12 (Six Innings)
It was a rough start to the day as Berry plated nine runs across the game's first three innings. Charli Shinstine (Encinitas, Calif./San Dieguito Academy) was tagged for five runs in 1.1 innings, while Emily Mottoshiski (Craryville, N.Y./Taconic Hills) surrendered four in her inning of work. Samantha Walsh (Spring City, Pa./Owen J Roberts) was able to find the most success in the circle for the Valiants in the opener, allowing three unearned runs across three innings.

In a big hole in the fourth, the Valiants hung a four spot in the frame to get back into the game. Walsh and Harker hit back-to-back singles before Giovanna Liggett (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison) drew a walk to load the bases. Amaya Esparza (Descansco, Calif./Granite Hills) connected with a 3 run double to clear the bases, coming around to score herself two batters later on a Mottoshiski single.

Berry added a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth to go back up by seven before another unearned run in the bottom of the sixth put the Vikings up by eight, enacting the run rule.

Game Two Recap: Manhattanville 0, No. 2 Texas Lutheran 3
Shinstine bounced back nicely in her second start of the day, tossing a complete game against one of the top teams in the country. The junior allowed three runs (two earned) in a full seven innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out four.

However, the Valiant bats were unable to generate much offense against the Bulldogs' Amanda White, who allowed just two hits in her seven shutout innings. The first 14 Manhattanville batters were retired before Rachel Coleman (Lake Forest, Calif./Mission Viejo) was able to drill a single into left field in the bottom of the fifth. Walsh would hit a lead off single in the seventh, but she would be erased as part of a fielder's choice two batters later as Manhattanville would be unable to get a runner to second base in the game.

The Bulldogs scored in the first after a Chassety Raines sac fly brought Kelly Jurden to the plate. Texas Lutheran would add another run in the fourth after Bailey Hudgeons hit a one out double. Kirsten Williams replaced Hudgeons on the basepaths, stealing third and scoring on a throwing error to put the Bulldogs up by a pair. Olivia Prinz hit a solo shot in the fifth as an insurance run.

Up Next
The Valiants head to Alabama on Tuesday for a doubleheader against No. 5 Birmingham-Southern College. Game one is slated for a 2 p.m. start.

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