SALISBURY, Md. – The Manhattanville University softball team opened up play in the 2024 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament on Thursday afternoon, falling to fifth-ranked Salisbury University 9-0 in five innings. The loss drops the Valiants to 31-11 on the season as the team falls into the elimination side of the bracket ahead of tomorrow's action.

The Valiants were held hitless in a combined effort by Lindsey Windsor and Sydney Adolfson to lead the Sea Gulls to a win in the opening matchup of the Salisbury Regional. It was the first time Manhattanville had been no-hit since March 15, 2011 in a matchup against Messiah.

The only traffic on the basepaths Manhattanville could generate in the loss were a pair of walks drawn by Isabella Tansey (San Diego, Calif./University City) and a hit-by-pitch on Rachel Coleman (Lake Forest, Calif./Mission Viejo). Tansey stole second in the first inning, but that was the only time the Valiants had a runner in scoring position as the nation's top-scoring offense was locked down all day.

After stranding Tansey at second in the top of the first, the Sea Gulls used a two-out rally to break things open early. With a pair in scoring position, Lauren Meyers cleared the bases with a two-run double. Two batters later, Windsor helped her own cause by lacing a triple to right to drive home two more and scoring later on the play as a result of an error to put Salisbury up 5-0.

That spelled an end to Charli Shinstine's (Encinitas, Calif./San Dieguito Academy) start, as the graduate arm ran into trouble that she was unable to find her way out of. Shinstine would take the loss and fall to 16-7 on the season after last two-thirds on an inning, allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch.

Called upon in a tough situation, Emily Mottoshiski (Craryville, N.Y./Taconic Hills) did everything she could in the relief effort to keep the Valiants in the game. The junior struck out the first batter she faced to bring an end to the first and proceeded to keep the Sea Gulls scoreless for the next two innings. Mottoshiski almost posted a scoreless fourth, but the Valiants' second error of the day extended the inning and allowed Salisbury to plate four unearned runs to go up 9-0. With the run rule now in effect, the Sea Gulls set down Manhattanville in order in the fifth to secure to win.

Mottoshiski finished with 3.1 innings on the day, being charged with four unearned runs on six hits and no walks while striking out two. In her two NCAA Tournament appearances of her career, Mottoshiski has shined, allowing just one earned run across 10.1 total innings.

Up Next
With the season on the line, the Valiants look to stay alive when the team returns to play tomorrow. Manhattanville takes on Eastern at 1:30 p.m. in the first elimination game of the regional, with the loser seeing their season come to an end. The winner will advance to the second elimination game of the day where they will take on the loser of tomorrow's Salisbury vs Randolph-Macon contest.

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