The New York University softball team split a doubleheader with Manhattanville College on Sunday, April 24, at Manhattanville Field in Purchase, NY.
The Violets (17-15) defeated the Valiants (32-2), ranked #22 in the nation by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, by a score of 9-4 in game one.
Diana King tossed a compete game, striking out nine while allowing four runs on seven hits.
Facing a 4-3 deficit,
Kahala Bonsignore hit a two-out, two-run home run in the fourth inning to give the Violets a lead that they would not relinquish.
"Diana threw a phenominal game," said Head Coach
Now-Allah James. "She pitched well and we put pressure on Manhattanville by putting the ball in play and forcing them to make mistakes."
NYU piled on four more runs in the sixth inning, three of which came on a bases-loaded single by
Dakota Damiani.
In the second contest, the Violets fell 6-5 in a nine-inning heartbreaker.
King again took the circle in game two, going the distance while allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out four.
Down 4-0 in the sixth inning, the Violets erased the deficit on a pair of two-RBI singles by
Claire Stefanelli and
Sage Scheiwiller.
The teams remained deadlocked into extra innings, before trading runs in the eighth. In the bottom of the ninth, Dolores Diemke of Manhattanville beat Bonsignore's throw home from shortstop on a grounder up the middle to give the Valiants a walk-off victory.
"I'm really proud of how we played all day and how we battled back in the second game," continued James. "We did everything we could, but we just came up a little short."
GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS
- King had a strong showing at the plate as well, going 2-for-5 and scoring three runs.
- Bonsignore was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBIs and a home run.
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Dakota Damiani was 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and one run scored.
GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS
- Stefanelli was 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored.
- Ashey Mains was 2-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt.
The Violets return to action on Wednesday, April 27, when they take on Drew University in a doubleheader at the Bahoshy Softball Complex at Fordham University in the Bronx, NY. Firdt game is scheduled for 4:00 pm.
