Box Score Pictured Above: Hana Gilbert
Photo By: Jason Roberts 

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Staten Island, NY – The Wagner College softball team defeated Manhattan 5-4 on Wednesday afternoon on a game-winning single from sophomore right fielder Hana Gilbert (Valley Center, CA/Valley Center) in the bottom of the seventh inning in the 2015 home opener.
 
With the victory, the Seahawks improve to 5-8 on the while the Jaspers are now 8-8.
 
Senior shortstop Kelsey Parker (Lynnwood, WA/Lynnwood) went a perfect 2-for-2, with a home run, a single and one RBI and sophomore McKaleigh Goodale (Bradenton, FL/Lakewood Ranch), who was the Seahawks' designated player, went 2-for-4 with three RBI.
 
Gilbert, senior first baseman Beth Lewis (Ashburn, VA/Stone Bridge) and sophomore third baseman Aerika High (Manheim, PA/Manheim Central) each contributed a hit for Wagner.
 
Goodale got things started the bottom of the first inning when she drilled a three-run home run, staking the Seahawks to an early 3-0 lead.

In the top of the third, Manhattan's Mickayla Romero laced an RBI single which was followed by a home run from Elena Bowman, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
 
The Jaspers loaded the bases in the top of the fifth, but senior starting pitcher Samantha Bedker (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O'Connor) induced first baseman Jenn Vazquez to a pop up to Seahawk sophomore second baseman Taylor Beeson (Mesa, AZ/Red Mountain) to end the inning. Parker then led off the bottom of the fifth with a home run to expand the Seahawk lead to 4-2.
 
But Manhattan wouldn't go away easily. In the sixth, left fielder Meredith Bryant's RBI single made it a 4-3 game before third baseman Mickayla Romero launched a solo shot in the seventh that tied the game at 4-4.
 
Sophomore second baseman Taylor Beeson (Mesa, AZ / Red Mountains) started Wagner's seventh inning rally with a leadoff walk, which was followed by a Parker single to right, which advanced Beeson to second. After junior catcher Brenda Bott (Fountain Valley, CA / Fountain) flied out to right, Goodale reached on a fielder's choice as Jasper right fielder Andi Stallard pegged Parker out at second for out number two while Beeson scrambled to third.
 
With two outs and Beeson on third, Gilbert stepped up and delivered the game-winning RBI single to right field as the Seahawks celebrated a 5-4 win.
 
Manhattan recorded eight hits in the contest, while Wagner had seven.
 
In the circle, Bedker notched her first win of the season (1-5), striking out four batters in a route-going performance.
 
The second game of the double header was called due to inclement weather conditions.
 
Wagner will return to action on Saturday when the Seahawks host local rival Fairleigh Dickinson in the Northeast Conference (NEC) opener for both teams. Game one of doubleheader between the Green & White and the Knights will take place at 1:00 p.m.
 
Follow Wagner Athletics on Twitter (@WagnerAthletics) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department, @WagnerSoftball for news and updates on the softball program