Springfield, Mass. – March 27, 2013 – The Springfield College softball team earned a non-conference split with Manhattanville on Wednesday afternoon in its home opener at Potter Field. The Pride cruised to a 11-1 win in five innings in the opener before surrendering five runs in the top of the seventh to drop an 8-3 contest in the nightcap.

The Valiants are now 8-8 on the season, while Springfield’s record fell to 4-8.

In the opener, Jenna Webb continued the tremendous start to her collegiate career as she went 2-for-3 with a career-best six RBI. Classmate Brielle Engelbrecht went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Chelsea Bender added two hits and Kelly Blake crossed the plate three times.

Jennifer Joseph had a great outing in the circle, allowing just three hits while striking out eight batters in just five innings of work. For the Valiants, Kristen Rodopoulos took the loss as she gave up six runs, three earned, off six hits. Katie Pitcher threw the final inning for the visitors, surrendering five earned runs on five hits.

Springfield struck for two runs in the bottom of the first, with Christina Leader scoring on a Webb fielder’s choice and Blake taking advantage of Manhattanville error to score from third.

The Valiants scored their lone run in the second. Laura Montalto led off the frame with a walk, and scored with two outs following a booming double by Brianna Scapperotti to right center.

The Pride added four runs in the third, thanks to a three-run shot to center by Webb. In the fourth, Springfield added five more runs after racking up five hits. Webb once again came up in a big spot, cracking a two-RBI double, while Brittany Lally, Elizabeth Joseph, and Engelbrecht each drove in runs for the hosts.

In the second contest, Jessica Van Glaen went 2-for-3 with four RBI to lead the visitors. Alyssa Taylor had a very strong showing pitching for Manhattanville, earning the win after striking out six and giving up three earned runs on six hits.

Of Springfield’s six hits, Leader had a pair and scored two runs, while Webb produced the lone RBI for the hosts. Ashley Marino gave up eight runs, five earned, on six hits and struck out seven in the loss.

Manhattanville struck for three runs in the third, capitalizing on a Springfield throwing error which resulted in two runs. Van Galen then notched her first RBI of the contest on a single through the left side to plate Kirsten Savage, whose bunt single forced the error earlier in the frame.

Leader produced an infield single to start the bottom of the third and would come around to score thanks to three wild pitches from Taylor.

Springfield continued to chip away in the fifth, using a lead-off bunt single by Leader to start the rally. A Lally bunt single and fielders choice by Blake allowed Webb to send a deep shot to left field for the sac fly to make it a one-run game.

The Pride evened the game at three in the sixth as Chelsea Bender scored on a wild pitch after previously earning a leadoff walk. However, in the seventh, the Valiants seized control for good with five runs off just two hits. A walk and a pair of fielder’s choices loaded the bases, and Pitcher crushed a single off the fence in center to score two runs. Van Galen then cleared the bases after hammering three-run homer to left field to complete the scoring.

Springfield will play again at home on Thursday in a doubleheader with Keene State starting at 3:30 pm