JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Manhattan Jaspers softball team (8-18, 4-4 MAAC), won both of its daytime contests against the Peacocks from Saint Peter's (4-14, 1-7 MAAC), by the final scores of 6-4 and 14-3 at Jaroschak Field on Tuesday afternoon.
GAME ONE: Manhattan 6, Saint Peter's 4
- In what was only the second plate appearance of the game, freshman Samantha Kelly launched her first collegiate home run over the left field fence to help the Jaspers break the ice.
- Saint Peter's took advantage of three RBI singles in the first, second, and third innings to take a 4-1 lead on the Green and White after three.
- Following both Kelly and Natalye DeBus stringing together a pair of hits, a two-RBI triple from Kendall Penny brought both of them home to trim the deficit down to only one after the fourth.
- Not to be outdone, the top half of the fifth brought a unique set of circumstances.
- After Kelly's third hit of the afternoon, her and Karissa Spring advanced into scoring position at second and third, respectively with two outs. Immediately following a swinging strike from DeBus, Saint Peter's Lauren Czerwinski made a throwing error down to third base, letting Kelly and Spring score with ease as the ball trickled into the outfield. This sequence gave the Jaspers their first lead since the opening inning at 5-4.
- Brianna Estevez hit the second Manhattan home run of the day, a solo edition as an insurance run in the seventh.
- Despite the Peacocks putting two runners in scoring position with only one out, a consecutive foul out and strikeout sequence ended the matinee in favor of the visitors.
GAME TWO: Manhattan 14, Saint Peter's 3 (F/6)
- Similar to the daytime session, the later one started with a few Jasper scores, opening with a double steal in the first.
- After the Peacocks left two on base in the home half of the second, a Caitlin Gaetani RBI double sent Penny home to double the early road lead.
- Estevez began to break the offense open in the fifth, scoring two on her double to left field to put four runs in the scoring column.
- Two more multi-run plays ensued before the frame came to a close, off the bats of DeBus and Moody, the second of which started off a fielding error in the outfield.
- Saint Peter's finally broke their dry spell in the home half, led by two bases-loaded walks to put three on the board.
- Estevez and Kelly scored Angelina Gencarelli and Jamie Falotico in that order to start the sixth followed by another DeBus two-RBI hit, essentially putting the nail in the coffin with a double-digit edge.
STATS AND NOTES
- Freshman utility player Natalye DeBus once again showed her two-way versatility, leading the team in hits with five and tallying her fourth win of the season in the circle.
- Freshman shortstop Samantha Kelly put together the most hits in game one with three, tying a season-high she's set twice previously in 2026.
- Freshman catcher Kendall Penny tied for the team lead in RBI with four, tying DeBus.
- Junior pitcher Karissa Spring went the distance in the matinee, allowing four earned runs off of nine hits while striking out six through 107 pitches.
NEXT UP:
Manhattan will continue its 2026 campaign on Saturday, March 28, when they welcome the Mountaineers from Mount St. Mary's. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM from Gaelic Park, and can be seen live on the Jasper Sports Network.
Follow Manhattan Softball on X (@JaspersSoftball) and Instagram (@jasperssoftball).
