ORANGE, Calif. – Playing their penultimate series in The Golden State, the Manhattanville College softball team split another doubleheader on Thursday, taking a game at Chapman University. The Valiants move to 4-4 on the season following the contests.
Game One Recap: Manhattanville 3, Chapman 1
Charli Shinstine (Encinitas, Calif./San Dieguito Academy) pitched to her fourth win in as many starts while
Sarah Harker (Irvine, Calif./Irvine) went 3-for-3 at the plate as the Valiants took the opener at Chapman.
It was another complete game effort for the Valiant ace in the circle as Shinstine worked around five hits and four walks to allow just one run to score in her seven innings of work. Tossing a season-high 131 pitches, Shinstine would retire seven batters via punchout, her second-highest strikeout total of the season.
The Valiants jumped out to a 1-0 first inning lead as
Amaya Esparza (Descanso, Calif./Granite Hills) continued to capitalize with runners on base for her team-leading fifth RBI of the season. With two gone in the inning, Harker reached with a single. Esparza brought the senior outfielder home with a single of her own to put the Valiants up early in the contest.
After being held to two hits across the first four innings, the Panthers were able to break through and get to Shinstine in the fifth. A walk and a pair of infield singles allowed Chapman to plate the tying run off a Grace Fosselman single.
Manhattanville wasted little time to reclaim their lead as the Valiants scored a pair of runs on three hits in the top of the sixth. It was Harker once again getting things started with a lead off single. Esparza reached with a walk, giving
Samantha Walsh (Spring City, Pa./Owen J Roberts) a golden opportunity as she stepped up to the plate. The sophomore delivered with a single, with Harker coming around to score after the ball was misplayed.
Rachel Coleman (Lake Forest, Calif./Mission Viejo) added an insurance tally in the following at-bat with a single to plate Esparza to put the Valiants up 3-1.
Working with the lead once again, Shinstine shut things down by allowing just one hit across the final two innings, retiring the side in order in the seventh to earn the win for Manhattanville.
Game Two Recap: Manhattanville 0, Chapman 5
After Shinstine stole the show in the opener, Simi Lauwers followed suit with a gem of her own for Chapman to earn the split as she silenced the Valiant bats.
The Valiants mustered just three hits against Lauwers as she struck out eight in her complete game shutout. It was the first time this season that Manhattanville was held without a run.
Chapman plated four runs in the fourth to take control of the contest.
Emily Mottoshiski (Craryville, N.Y./Taconic Hills) pitched three no-hit innings before finding trouble. With runners on first and second, Taylor Corcoran dropped down a bunt. The Chapman first baseman would beat the throw as the ball sailed into the outfield, allowing Christina Denlinger to score. Morgan Lastinger then legged out an inside the park homer in the following at-bat to plate three more runs and put the Panthers up 4-0.
Fosselman added an RBI single in the sixth to give Chapman the five-run lead. Mottoshiski pitched all six innings for the Valiants, being charged with five runs on seven hits and five walks.
Walsh,
Jayleen Torres (Bellflower, Calif./Downey) and
Sydni Brooks (Anaheim, Calif./Cypress) accounted for the three Manhattanville hits in the finale. Walsh's hit was a double in the second.
Olivia Fasce (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) successful stole a base as a pinch runner.
Up Next
The Valiants will wrap up their adventure through California tomorrow with a pair of games at Pomona-Pitzer starting at 4 p.m. EST.
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