BRONX, NY (March 27, 2002) - Freshmen Margaret LaFex (Syracuse, NY) and Maura Langan (Manasaquan, NJ) each drove in two runs to lead the Manhattan College softball team to a 7-2 victory over the Fordham Rams in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon. The Rams got even in the second game and put the Jaspers away in the late innings, as Manhattan fell 6-3 in the nightcap. Manhattan is now 7-11 on the season, while Fordham moves to 7-18.
After a scoreless first, Manhattan rallied for four runs in the bottom of the second. LaFex ripped a double to left-centerfield to plate two runs for the Lady J's, and the next batter, Langan, singled up the middle to score two more to give Manhattan a quick 4-0 lead. The Lady J's added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to three Lady Ram errors. Eight of the nine Lady J starters collected a basehit in the victory.
Candice Aulogia (New Windsor, NY) (3-3) picked up the complete-game victory, allowing just two runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
In game two, Fordham banged out 10 basehits and took advantage of six Lady Jasper errors en route to a 6-3 victory. Trailing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth, Manhattan rallied for two runs to take a 3-2 lead. Kathryn Bentz (Westchester, PA) led off the inning with a bunt single and then proceeded to steal second. After a groundout by Candace Petrillo (New Windsor, NY), Jennifer Kamph (Ozone Park, NY) tripled to right-center to score Bentz. LaFex and Erika Kostik (Orangeburg, NY) drew back-to-back walks to load the bases, and Suzanne Masotto (Southbury, CT) drove in a run on a groundout to second.
But the Lady Rams responded with two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth and went on to win 6-3. Masotto, Bentz and Kamph each collected two hits on the day. Brianne Illanovsky (Matamoras, PA) (1-2) took the loss for Manhattan, pitching six innings and giving up six runs (two earned) on 10 hits while striking out three and walking two.
Manhattan returns to action on Thursday, March 28, hosting Seton Hall at 2:00 PM at Gaelic Park.
