ELON, N.C. – The Manhattan Jaspers softball team (2-5), took a split in their first day at the Elon Softball Invitational, dropping against the Flyers from Dayton (5-1) and taking a win over the Phoenix of Elon (1-6) by the final scores of 10-1 and 9-4 at Hunt Softball Park on Friday afternoon.
GAME ONE: Manhattan 1, Dayton 10
- Dayton's Katelin Goodwin drove home two runs with her deep shot in the opening frame with one out.
- That was the lone score that pitcher Karissa Spring gave up through the fourth inning, retiring six straight in the third and fourth.
- A three-run fifth from the Flyers put Dayton up five, as Abby Turnpaugh came in relief.
- In the home half of the fifth, Natalye DeBus drove home Kalyn Markel from second base, with the inning ending as Brianna Estevez got caught at second.
- Allowing a leadoff single in the sixth, Turnpaugh kept the Flyers at bay with sitting down her next three batters.
- Dayton added five runs of insurance in the seventh, putting a stamp on the matinee.
GAME TWO: Manhattan 9, Elon 4
- In a similar tune to the opening contest, Elon brought the first score home via groundout in the bottom of the first.
- Manhattan ripped off a seven-run second inning to respond, kicked off by Kendall Penny doubling to left center to tie the game.
- Jamie Falotico then gave the Jaspers their first lead in either game, scoring Penny and Caitlin Gaetani on a double of her own.
- With DeBus and Sophia Kiseloski bringing runs home off of a walk and fielder's choice, freshmen Kaitlyn Moody and Lainey Brown ripped a pair of singles to bring the final number to seven.
- Gaetani opened the game in the circle, keeping the Phoenix at one on the scoreboard through three.
- Her sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth scored Moody, stretching the Green and White lead to seven at 8-1.
- Following an RBI double from the Phoenix, Kiselowki and Gaetani switched spots, with the former going to the circle and the latter to first base.
- Kiseloski sat down her first six batters faced, not bending until a two out single in the sixth.
- Elon scored two in the home half of the seventh, but it wasn't enough as Manhattan secured their second win of the season.
STATS AND NOTES
- Freshman infielder Lainey Brown tallied the most hits on the day, with three in the nightcap including an RBI.
- Senior infielder Jamie Falotico's two-run double tied her with Freshman third baseman Natalye DeBus for most RBI on the day with two.
- Freshman utility player Caitlin Gaetani's four strikeouts led the way, allowing two earned runs on three and two-thirds innings pitched.
- Senior utility player Sophia Kiseloski accumulated her second win on the season, allowing two earned runs off three hits.
NEXT UP:
Manhattan will continue its 2026 campaign tomorrow, Saturday, February 14 when the Jaspers continue play from the Tar Heel State against Delaware State. Action will get underway at 9:30 AM with no video broadcast available, live statistics can be found here.
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