SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The Manhattan Jaspers softball team (3-12), fell in its doubleheader against the Mustangs from Cal Poly (5-9) by the final scores of 2-0 and 5-4 at Bob Janssen Field on Wednesday afternoon.
GAME ONE: Manhattan 0, Cal Poly 2
- Following two scoreless opening innings, the lone hit stood as a leadoff single from Brianna Estevez.
- In the home half of the third, a sacrifice bunt led to an errant throw to score the first run of the game, followed by a sacrifice fly to double the lead.
- Even with two runners in scoring positions in the fourth and fifth, starter Natalye DeBus held the Mustangs at bay, keeping the Jaspers within reach.
- Lainey Brown got herself within two bases of scoring after a single and Kendall Penny being struck by a pitch.
- Sophia Hannappel took a base on balls to load the bases to bring Estevez to the plate.
- Loading up a 2-2 count, a groundout to second base ended the matinee.
GAME TWO: Manhattan 4, Cal Poly 5
- Kicking off the nightcap was another defensive war, with one total hit through the first two innings similar to the first game.
- Estevez tacked on the first hit of the game in the third, advancing to second off a throwing error.
- Unable to gain any momentum on the scoreboard, Cal Poly's bats began to come to life in the fifth, with a two-RBI double highlighting a four-run inning.
- Brown's sacrifice fly in the sixth scored Samantha Kelly from third, coming all the way around after her leadoff walk.
- After an insurance run from the Mustangs in the sixth, the Jasper offense roared back with back-to-back-to-back scoring plays.
- A fielder's choice from Estevez brought Caitlin Gaetani home after Jamie Falotico's walk loaded the bases.
- Following another groundout from Kelly to score Penny, DeBus singled down the left field to cut the deficit to within one.
- With the tying run at second, Sophia Kiseloski grounded out ot third to end the evening.
STATS AND NOTES
- Freshman utility player Natalye DeBus went the distance in the matinee, allowing no earned runs acros six innings off of two hits, fanning one.
- Junior pitcher Karissa Spring took the brunt of the load in the nightcap, going four and two thirds innings allowing four earned runs and striking out three.
- Sophomore utility player Brianna Estevez tallied the most Jasper hits on the day with three, including an RBI in the nightcap.
- Freshman infielder Lainey Brown, shortstop Samantha Kelly, utility player DeBus, and Estevez all tied for the most runs batted in with one each.
NEXT UP:
Manhattan will continue its 2026 campaign next Saturday, March 7, when they travel to Staten Island to take on the Seahawks from Wagner. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM from Wagner Softball Field, broadcasted live on NEC Front Row.
Follow Manhattan Softball on X (@JaspersSoftball) and Instagram (@jasperssoftball).
