Kissimmee, FL - Manchester Softball continued its run in THE Spring Games on Monday, splitting a pair of games against Bates and Plymouth State.

Game One:

Manchester jumped out early and finished strong on Monday morning, defeating Bates 5-2.

The Spartans wasted no time getting on the board, scoring twice in the top of the first. Kendal Rider helped spark the quick start after being hit by a pitch, stealing her way into scoring position and eventually coming home on a Crystal Cooke RBI groundout. Later in the inning, Krryn Miller delivered a two-out RBI triple to right field to bring home Erin Singleton and give Manchester a 2-0 lead. Manchester added another run in the second. After Sabrina Leonard reached on an error and moved up on a sacrifice bunt, Rider came through with a two-out RBI single to center to score Leonard and make it 3-0.

Bates answered in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to 3-2, but Manchester responded the rest of the way. After Emilie Goldstein started the game in the circle, Miller took over in relief and was outstanding, tossing the final 4.2 innings while allowing just three hits and no runs to earn the win. Miller also helped herself at the plate with her first-inning RBI triple. The Spartans created breathing room in the sixth with a pair of insurance runs. Molly Gilhooly started the rally with a double to center, and pinch hitter Lillian Riley followed with an RBI single to right to score pinch runner Addysyn Wettrick. Later in the inning, another pinch hitter, Kara Burgan, drove in Aubrey Ciupak with a two-out single to right center to push the lead to 5-2.

Rider led the way offensively for Manchester, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI, a hit-by-pitch, a run scored, and three stolen bases. Gilhooly also had a strong day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, while Miller went 1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI. Riley and Burgan each came through off the bench with RBI singles in the sixth. Manchester totaled seven hits, stole four bases, and got RBI contributions from five different players in the win. Defensively, the Spartans closed the door over the final four innings, not allowing Bates to score after the third.

Game Two: 

Manchester dropped a 6-4 decision to Plymouth State on Monday afternoon, despite battling back from an early three-run deficit to tie the game midway through.

Plymouth State struck first with three runs in the opening inning, but Manchester settled in and answered in the third. Kloe Wentz started the rally with a single, and Kendal Rider followed with a double to right center to put two runners in scoring position. Erin Singleton then delivered a two-run single to left, bringing Manchester within 4-2. The Spartans pulled even in the fourth inning. Lillian Riley doubled down the right-field line and later came around to score on an RBI single from Wentz. Moments later, Manchester tied the game at 4-4 when Rider reached on an error that allowed Wentz to cross the plate.

Wentz and Singleton paced the Manchester offense with two hits apiece. Singleton drove in two runs, while Wentz went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Rider added a double, a walk, a stolen base, and a run scored, while Riley chipped in a double. After Manchester tied it, Plymouth State kept the Spartans off the board over the final three innings. Manchester managed just one hit the rest of the way. Plymouth State regained the lead in the seventh on a two-run home run, which proved to be the difference after a weather delay in the bottom half of the inning.

Kara Burgan went the distance in the circle for Manchester, striking out two over seven innings. After a tough first inning, she settled in well and helped keep the Spartans within striking distance before the late go-ahead blast. Manchester finished with seven hits and played error-free defensively, but Plymouth State's 11-hit effort and late two-run swing lifted them to the win.