Siena Softball (19-11, 11-4 MAAC) split its doubleheader against Manhattan (11-26, 6-10 MAAC) at Gaelic Park, grinding out a tight extra-inning win before falling in the nightcap.
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Siena 1, Manhattan 0 (8)
Siena edged Manhattan in a pitcher's duel, breaking through in the eighth inning to secure a 1-0 victory.
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Gracie Goewey was outstanding in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout while striking out nine and allowing just four hits to improve to 9-5 on the season.
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After seven scoreless innings, the Saints capitalized on a defensive miscue in extras.
Megan Klein reached and advanced to third on a bunt single and throwing error before
Chloe Cummings delivered the decisive RBI single to plate the game's only run.
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Cummings finished with two hits and the RBI, while Klein accounted for Siena's lone run as the Saints' defense held firm to close out the win.
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Manhattan 12, Siena 4 (6)
The second game saw a shift in momentum, as Manhattan used a power surge to pull away for a 12-4 win in six innings.
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Siena struck first in the opening inning when
Emma Petersen drove in
Megan Klein with a single, but Manhattan responded immediately with a two-run homer from Lainey Brown.
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The Saints briefly regained the lead in the second, as
Sarah Miller launched a two-run home run—the first of her career—to make it 3-2. However, Manhattan answered again, highlighted by a Natalye DeBus home run in the third to reclaim the lead for good.
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The Jaspers broke the game open with a three-run fourth inning and continued to add on late, including another two-run homer from Brown and a solo shot from Michayla Rodriguez in the sixth.
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Goewey contributed offensively with an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the fifth, scoring
Chloe Cummings to cut the deficit to 8-4 at the time.
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Violet Marta got the start, allowing seven earned runs over 3.2 innings, while
Kaytlin Stephens worked the final two innings in relief.
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Siena moves to 19-11 overall and 11-4 in conference play. The Saints will wrap up the series against Manhattan on Sunday, Apr. 12 at noon in the Bronx.
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