CLERMONT, Fla. – Manchester University softball dropped a pair of tight contests today down in the Sunshine State.  SUNY New Paltz narrowly edged the Spartans in the first game of the day by a final score of 5-2.  The Spartans' late rally against Ripon College in the second game of the day fell just short as MU fell to Red Hawks 9-7.

SUNY New Paltz 5, Manchester 2 – Box Score

Manchester ran into a red-hot SUNY New Paltz team this morning in Florida.  The Hawks improved to 9-1 this season following a 5-2 win against Manchester.

The Spartans battled to a 2-1 lead following a two-run double by Kendal Torrence (Lowell, Ind. / Lowell).  Katelynn Skeens (Gas City, Ind. / Mississinewa) went 3-4 at the plate.  Both Torrence and Miranda Boggs (Frankfort, Ind. / Frankfort) had 2-3 efforts at the plate.

Both teams tallied seven hits apiece and combined for five errors.  All seven runs scored in the first game on Friday were unearned.

Ripon 9, Manchester 7 – Box Score

The Red Hawks of Ripon College jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in the second game of the day and Manchester's late rally fell just short as the Spartans fell by a 9-7 final.

Trailing 9-3 in the 6^th, Alexis Mokos (Cedar Lake, Ind. / Hanover Central) singled up the middle that scored one run.  In the 7^th, Krystal Sellers (Bourbon, Ind. / Triton) also singled up the middle that drew Manchester within 9-5.  A two-run single by Katelynn Skeens brought the Spartans within 9-7 before the Red Hawks got the final outs of the ballgame.

Skeens had another strong offensive performance, leading the Spartans with a 4-5 game at the plate.  She drove in two runs and scored once.  Sellers, Boggs, and Mokos each collected two hits.  Mokos drove in a team-high three runs. 

The Spartans moved to 4-4 on the season and will conluded their 2019 Spring Break Trip tomorrow with games in the morning against Thomas (ME) and Allegheny.