NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Manhattan Softball dropped the series finale at Iona on Saturday by a final score of 5-3. Despite the loss, center fielder Brianna Estevez recorded hits in all four of her plate appearances, and left fielder Lindsey Hoag showcased her offensive game with a pair of hits and runs batted in.
HOW IT HAPPENED
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Inserted into the lead-off spot, freshman Brianna Estevez led off the festivities with a single up the middle in the first inning, but was stranded on the base paths.
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Meanwhile, the Iona hitters found early success against starting pitcher Karissa Spring. The Gaels manufactured two runs in the bottom of the first, courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Brooke Acker and an ensuing RBI single from Sara Piña. Iona led 2-0 after one with a trio of hits.
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Estevez would continue to excel in her role setting the table for the Jaspers. After lining another single up the hole, Estevez would advance to second on a groundout by two-hitter Anissa Villalobos before being brought home on an RBI single from Lindsey Hoag.
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Hoag's first hit of the day cashed in the Jaspers' first run, as Manhattan trailed 2-1 heading into the bottom of the third.
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Facing Sophia Kiseloski in relief, Iona loaded the bases in the third with only one out. Three runs came around to score after a throwing error from Manhattan catcher Anissa Villalobos and a two-run double for Brianna Fischer, thus extending the Iona lead to 5-1.
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In the seventh, another RBI single from Hoag once again scored Estevez and a ground-rule RBI double from Kiseloski scored Villalobos.
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The Jaspers would not draw any closer after Kiseloski's hit, dropping the contest by a two-run margin.
STATS AND NOTES
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Estevez currently enjoys a seven-game hitting streak during which she has gone 14-22 (.636 BA) at the plate.
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Estevez recorded a career-high four hits on Saturday.
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Estevez, who was inserted to the top of the line-up on Saturday, has collected seven two-hit games as well.
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Senior Lindsey Hoag has continued to flourish at the plate in recent days, going 7-16 (.437 BA) over her last five games.
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Kiseloski's RBI in the seventh increased her team-high total to 27 on the season.
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At the plate, Karissa Spring had a double and a walk on Saturday.
NEXT UP
Manhattan (10-25, 7-9 MAAC) will host the Quinnipiac Bobcats (14-22, 9-7 MAAC) for a double-header on Tuesday in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. First pitch for game one is slated for 2 p.m., and game two will start at approximately 4 p.m. at Gaelic Park. Both games will be streamed on the Jaspers Sports Network.
Follow Manhattan Softball on X (@JaspersSoftball) and Instagram (@jasperssoftball).
