Photo by Nick Monaghan
Staten Island, NY – Two thrilling one-run victories, including a walk-off win on an RBI triple by junior
Amelia Van Orman in the second game of the afternoon, earned the Wagner College softball team its first sweep of the season, as the Seahawks took both games against Manhattan on Wednesday.
Following a 5-4 victory in the first contest of the day, the Green and White earned a 4-3 win in comeback fashion to move to 3-1 at home and 7-15 overall on the year.
Game 1 Recap: Wagner 5-4 Manhattan
Powered by a four-run fifth inning and a complete game win by senior
Ciera Luna, the Seahawks hung on in the late stages of the game, as the Jaspers made it a one-run contest in the top of the seventh inning.
Wagner took a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI groundout by senior
Lauren Serrato, but fell behind 2-1 in the top of the fifth.
Another RBI by Serrato tied the game in the bottom half of the fifth, before a base hit by junior
Kaila Smith gave Wagner a 3-2 lead.
Next up, freshman
Natalie Del Ponte again showed why she is among the nation's leaders in RBIs per game, scoring both Smith and Van Orman with a double to deep right center field in extending the lead to 5-2.
With the Jaspers threatening in the seventh and the tying run on base, junior
Hannah Lewis came up with a diving stop to end the game and secure the victory for the Seahawks.
Manhattan held a 10-8 advantage in hits, as Del Ponte led the way with three hits for Wagner.
Defensively, freshman
Breanna Thompson helped Wagner get out of a jam in the third. With the bases loaded and no out, Thompson snagged a line drive at shortstop to start the rare 6-3-5 triple play and prevent any runs from crossing the plate.
Game 2 Recap: Wagner 4-3 Manhattan
The Seahawks never led in the second contest of the afternoon until the final at-bat, as Van Orman's RBI triple completed a two-run rally to give Wagner the 4-3 win.
After the Jaspers took a 2-0 lead in the fourth, RBI singles by Lewis and Smith tied the contest after five innings of play.
Manhattan took a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh, putting the pressure on the Wagner offense.
With one out in the inning, senior
Karen Prihoda drew a walk and stole second base to move into scoring position. Next up, a clutch RBI single down the left field line by Serrato knotted the contest up at 3-3 and brought Van Orman to the plate.
The junior sent the ball to deep center field, which allowed Serrato to race home with the game-winning run.
In the pitching circle, freshman
Kayla Hooks went the distance for the second victory of her career, striking out four batters in Wagner's second complete game effort of the day.
Serrato and Van Orman paced the Seahawks with two hits each as both teams were knotted up at eight hits apiece.
Next up, Wagner opens Northeast Conference (NEC) play on Saturday with a doubleheader against Mount St. Mary's, starting at 1 pm.
