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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Violet Marta got the start, allowing seven earned runs over 3.2 innings, while
Kaytlin Stephens worked the final two innings in relief.
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.
