PURCHASE, N.Y. – It was a historic day for the Manhattanville College softball team on Sunday, as the Valiants had a new single-season strikeout record set while another coaching milestone was reached in the Valiants' doubleheader sweep of Purchase College.
With the 8-0 victory in Game One, Head Coach
Dale Martin secured his 500
th career NCAA win. In 22 seasons of coaching at all three levels of collegiate softball, Martin adds this latest accolade of his highly decorate career a day after earning his 400
th win with the Valiants.
Also in Game One,
Charli Shinstine (Encinitas, Calif./San Dieguito Academy) struck out 12 batters to bring her total on the year to 179. Shinstine now holds the single-season strikeout record for the Valiants, surpassing Maggie Thomas' record of 178 set in 2006.
The pair of victories has the Valiants conclude the regular season with a 24-14 overall record and a 16-2 mark in Skyline play, securing the No. 2 seed and a first round bye in next week's Conference Championship tournament.
Game One Recap: Manhattanville 8, Purchase 0 (Five Innings)
The Valiants were able to pick up the win in the historic opener via run rule, scoring eight runs over the final four innings to close out Game One in five innings.
As mentioned earlier, Shinstine was downright dominant with her 12 strikeouts to earn her 14
th win of the season. The junior allowed just two hits and a pair of walks over five shutout innings to close out what has been a phenomenal regular season. Shinstine enters the conference tournament as the Skyline's leader in wins, innings pitched and strikeouts, while her 2.53 ERA ranks fifth amongst all eligible pitchers.
After being held scoreless in the first, the Valiants were able to plate a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second on a Purchase error that allowed Shinstine and
Melissa Lopez (Whittier, Calif./California) to score. Manhattanville added two more in the third as
Giovanna Liggett (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison) scored on a
Rachel Coleman (Lake Forest, Calif./Mission Viejo) groundout before
Abby Tanuma (Chula Vista, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) hit a double to score
Amaya Esparza (Descansco, Calif./Granite Hills).
The Valiants scratched out three more runs in the fourth on three hits and an error.
Jayleen Torres (Downey, Calif./Downey) scored on a wild pitch,
Samantha Walsh (Spring City, Pa./Owen J Roberts) came around on an Esparza single and Purchase error, and Liggett crossed home on a fielder's choice. Walsh then lined a single through the left side in the fifth to score
Emily Mottoshiski (Craryville, N.Y./Taconic Hills) with the eighth run of the game to set up the run rule victory in the bottom half. The Panthers got a pair into scoring position in the bottom half of the frame, but Shinstine's 12
th strikeout of the affair snuffed out the threat and earned the shutout victory.
Liggett and Tanuma each had three hits in the opener.
Game Two Recap: Manhattanville 8, Purchase 0 (Five Innings)
Despite only four hits at the plate, the Valiants were able to score another eight runs in Game Two to get another run rule victory and complete the sweep.
Doing the dealing in the circle this time around was Mottoshiski, earning her ninth win of the season with a complete game shutout. The rookie allowed just two hits while striking out three to end the regular season with an ERA of 4.27.
The Valiants hung a five spot on the board in the second innings to take charge in Sunday's finale. After a leadoff hit by pitch and a walk, Shinstine singled to center to score Coleman. Back-to-back Panther errors allow Shinstine and Tanuma to score with a pair of unearned runs before Mottoshiski and Torres scored on a pair of passed balls to take the commanding lead.
Manhattanville plated the rest of their runs in the fourth. Walsh drew a one out walk before stealing second and advancing to third on a passed ball. Liggett cashed in on the runner in scoring position with a single to right field. The senior Liggeyy made her way around the bases on three wild pitches, while
Olivia Fasce (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) capped off the inning with an RBI single to score Coleman.
Singles in the second and fifth inning were the only blemishes on Mottoshiski's line score for the day, as no Panthers successfully reached second base in the contest.
Up Next
The Valiant have earned the No. 2 seed in the Skyline Conference Championship Tournament which begins on Tuesday. Manhattanville automatically advances to the four-team double elimination bracket, hosting the winner of No. 3 Mount Saint Mary and No. 6 Old Westbury on Thursday for their opening contest.
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