RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The 2022 Manhattan softball season gets underway this weekend with the Jaspers traveling to McNeese State in Lake Charles, La, for five games from Fri.-Sat.
The Jaspers will face (in order); UT Arlington, Sam Houston, Memphis, McNeese State, and UNLV.
NEW TITLE
Cat Clifford starts her first season as head coach of the Jaspers in 2022. Clifford was an assistant with Manhattan for the last six seasons.
Clifford replaces Tom Pardalis, who retired after last season after leading the Jaspers for 12 seasons. Pardalis is the winning coach in program history with a 275-274-1 career record.
FROM COACH CLIFFORD
We are excited to get back on the field and travel for spring training trips again. This is a special group; they are committed to each other, and we have had a great couple of weeks of practice. We have more depth than ever, which we will draw heavily upon as we face our toughest schedule yet. This team is ready for the challenge; we are focused on the new season and are prepared to compete for another MAAC championship.
DEFENDING CHAMPS
Manhattan won the 2021 MAAC Tournament title and went to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1999. The Jaspers defeated Canisius in the title game up in Buffalo, 6-3.
NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Jaspers went to the Fayetteville Regional, where they faced the hosts No. 6 Arkansas and Stanford.
Lauren Rende went 3-for-4 over the two games in Fayetteville and scored a run.
'22 SCHEDULE
The 2022 slate opens in Louisiana with five games this weekend. The Jaspers will also travel to California for five more games in mid-March.
The home slate for the Jaspers opens on Mar. 3 with a doubleheader against Hartford.
MAAC opens on Sunday, Apr. 3, at Gaelic Park against Siena. This season, the Jaspers host Monmouth, Rider, Marist, and Saint Peter's at Gaelic Park in MAAC play.
The regular season closes on May 7 at Fairfield.
RETURNING ALL-LEAGUE
Annie Moore returns in 2022 after earning Second Team All-MAAC honors a season ago. Moore hit .354, which led the team. Moore led Manhattan in RBI (20) and shared the team lead in runs (19) and homers (5).
PRESEASON ALL-MAAC
Moore earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAAC team on the infield. Moore finished T5 in the MAAC in hits with 40 and T4 in homers.
RETURNING PRODUCTION
Five of the eight qualified hitters return in 2022 Manhattan. Moore and Rende return with
Marika Deemer,
Jessie Rising, and
Gabriella Mazzotta.
Deemer was second on the Jaspers with a .293 average and drove in 15 runs. The junior sported a 2.51 ERA over 17 appearances last season.
Rende and Rising both hit .253. Rende was fourth on the team in total bases (38). Mazzotta led Manhattan in stolen bases (11) and was second in runs scored (17).
