PURCHASE, N.Y. – It was a successful start to the holiday weekend for the Manhattanville College softball team on Friday, as the Valiants smashed three home runs and got a pair of strong pitching performances to sweep Hunter College. The two wins extends Manhattanville's winning streak to six, improving the team's record to 16-12 overall.
Game One Recap: Manhattanville 2, Hunter 0
After scoring 45 runs across four games last weekend, the Valiant bats found themselves contained in Friday's opener, a pitching duel that saw just seven total hits. While Manhattanville was held to five hits, their fewest in a game since March 30 against NYU,
Rachel Coleman (Lake Forest, Calif./Mission Viejo) delivered the biggest one of the game.
With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, Coleman stepped up with a runner on first and one away. The rookie smacked T'ea Panagakos' pitch to straight center, clearing the wall for her first collegiate home run.
The two run advantage would be all that the Valiants would need in the opener as reigning Skyline Pitcher of the Week
Charli Shinstine (Encinitas, Calif./San Dieguito Academy) was once again a nightmare in the circle for the opposing batters. Shinstine allowed just two hits and an unearned run in a complete game seven inning effort, striking out 16. It was the junior's highest punchout total in a game since the season opener when she struck out 18 against Coe College. Shinstine has now struck out 141 batters this season, continuing to climb towards the program's single-season record of 178.
Jayleen Torres (Downey, Calif./Downey) hit a pair of singles, the only Valiant to record multiple base hits in the opener. The junior also successfully swiped a pair of bases.
Game Two Recap: Manhattanville 8, Hunter 0 (Five Innings)
The offense showed more signs of last week's performances in the second game, recording 13 hits and scoring a run in four of the five innings played to complete the sweep.
The game came to an early end in the fifth via an unconventional walk-off. With the Valiants up 7-0,
Dani Nii (Orange, Calif./El Modena) led off the frame in her first at-bat since the 2020 season. The junior got a hold of a pitch she liked, muscling it out over the wall in right center to invoke the run rule and complete the Manhattanville sweep.
Nii's homer was the second of the game for the Valiants, as
Giovanna Liggett (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison) got the scoring started in the first with a three-run blast, her seventh home run of the season. Marissa Lopez also added an RBI single later in the inning to give the home squad an early 4-0 lead.
Liggett would add another RBI in the second on a single that scored Torres. In the third, the Valiants used a two out rally to plate two more.
Olivia Fasce (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) started with a hit up the middle that deflected off the diving shortstop's glove before Torres knocked a double to the left field wall to put a pair in scoring position for
Samantha Walsh (Spring City, Pa./Owen J Roberts). The rookie cashed in with a two run single, picking up her 19
th and 20
th RBIs of the season.
With plenty of run support to work with, Emilly Mottoshiski put together her third consecutive shutout victory. The reigning Skyline Rookie of the Week surrendered just two hits and walked one while striking out five.
Up Next
The Valiants look to keep the good times rolling tomorrow in conference play. The Valiants will serve as the road team on the Manhattanville Softball Field for the doubleheader against the College of Mount Saint Vincent starting at 11 a.m.
VALIANTS on SOCIAL MEDIA For the latest on Manhattanville Athletics, follow the Valiants via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. #GoValiants #RollVals
