Canisius Claims 5-4 Win over Manhattan in Game Two of the 2010 MAAC Softball Championship
MAAC Sports
Buffalo, N.Y. - Top-seeded Canisius College claimed a 5-4 win over fourth-seeded Manhattan College in game two of the 2010 MAAC Softball Championship at the Demske Sports Complex on the campus of Canisius College.
Manhattan (25-22-1) recorded four runs in the top of the first inning. Kristina Walraven scored on a sacrifice fly by Jaci Rahey, followed by an RBI single by Nicole Michel to bring in Monica Evangelista. Melissa Donnelly scored on an error during a sacrifice bunt by Amanda Babcock, and then Michel reached home plate on a passed ball.
Canisius (33-17) responded in the bottom of the fifth, as Lauren Falzone hit a single to centerfield to bring Amanda Cannizzo around the bases to make it, 4-1. Michelle Fridey hit a ground-rule double to allow Falzone to score to cut the Jaspers' lead on the Griffs by two (4-2).
Fridey then sent a double to left center in the bottom of the seventh to bring in Katie Medina as the Griffs moved within one (4-3). The bases were then loaded with one out as Katie Lancelotti got hit by a pitch and Emily Helbig singled to left field. In the next at-bat, Cannizzo hit a short single into centerfield to bring in Medina and Fridey to give Canisius the 5-4 win.
Canisius' Caroline Main claimed the win (16-6), striking out three and giving up three hits and one earned run in 7.0 innings of work. Donnelly dropped her record to 7-11 on the mound for Manhattan.
Canisius will play Iona College in Game 3, which is slated for Friday, May 14, at 11:00 a.m. Game four between Manhattan and Niagara University is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow.