NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College softball team dropped a pair of non-conference games to the Valiants of Manhattanville College on Wednesday afternoon at the Shea Softball Complex. 

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE (G1): Manhattanville 9 | Albertus Magnus 1 - 6 innings
FINAL SCORE (G2): Manhattanville 4 | Albertus Magnus 0
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (7-11) | Manhattanville (8-4)
BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2

KEY HIGHLIGHTS - Game 1

• After a scoreless first inning, Manhattanville put two runs on the scoreboard in the top of the second behind a  lead-off home run from Amayo Esparza and a RBI single from Sydni Brooks.
• Albertus countered the Valiants' two runs in the second as Breanna Saldivar (Middletown, Conn.) and Janelle Franklin (Middletown, Conn.) found themselves on first and second with two outs, but a strikeout ended the threat and sent the teams back to their designated dugouts.
• In the top of the fourth, the Valiants doubled their lead, 4-0, against the Falcons after scoring two runs on three hits, including back-to-back RBIs from Esparza and Juliana Brooks.
• Solid pitching and defensive work from Manhattanville kept Albertus at bay over the next two innings, forcing the hosts to leave a runner on base.
• Bats came alive for the Valiants in the top of the sixth as the visitors scored five runs on four hits to take a commanding 9-0 lead.
• The Falcons' solo run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth when Peyton Davis (North Haven, Conn.) drove in Angelina Ramada (North Branford, Conn.) from second on a groundout to first.
• Following the run scored, Albertus was unable to ignite a late rally, falling to the Valiants in game one, 9-1, in six innings. 

IN THE CIRCLE
WP: Charli Shinstine (W, 6-2) - 6.0 IP | 3 H | 1 R | 1 ER | 3 BB | 8 SO
LP: Skylar Arent (Ridgefield, Conn.) (L, 1-2) - 5.2 IP | 10 H | 8 R | 6 ER | 3 SO | 1 HR

AT THE PLATE

• Erin Molkenthin (East Haddam, Conn.), Ramada, and Davis recorded a hit for the Falcons.
• Davis recorded the lone RBI of game one.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS - Game 2

• Manhattanville jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first, scoring a pair of runs on a RBI single to center field from Julianna Parkes. 
• In the bottom of the second, Albertus had the opportunity to cut the deficit in half as Arent forced a walk with two outs on the board, but a strikeout ended the offensive threat for the Falcons.
• Manhattanville found themselves ahead by four, 4-0, following another two-run inning in the top of the third. 
• Albertus started to find its offensive rhythm at the plate in the bottom of the fourth when the Falcons loaded the bases with one out. Ramada kicked off the inning with a double to left center before advancing to third on an error by the pitcher that allowed Anna Leone (Shelton, Conn.) to reach first. Despite a pick-off at third, Albertus managed to put runners on the corners until a walk from Arent loaded the bases for Isabelle Smith (Meriden, Conn.). However, Smith popped up to second, and a strikeout from Ava Gladwin (Guilford, Conn.) stranded the runners on base. 
• The Valiants played solid defense for the remaining three innings, allowing Albertus to have just one runner on base in the bottom of the seventh. 

IN THE CIRCLE
WP: Emily Mottoshiski (W, 2-4) | 7.0 IP | 2 H | 4 BB | 3 SO
LP: Annabelle Jabs (East Hartland, Conn.) (L, 2-2) | 4.2 IP | 9 H | 4 R | 4 ER | 2 BB | 2 SO

AT THE PLATE

• Ramada and Davis each recorded a hit for the Falcons.

UP NEXT

The softball team returns to action on Saturday, April 1, with a road Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader against the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University. Game times are set for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.