Purchase, NY – The Hunter softball team put up a valiant effort, erasing a three-run deficit, but would ultimately fall 7-3 in game one and then were shutout in game two to drop a non-conference doubleheader to Manhattanville College on Wednesday in Purchase, NY.

Called upon for her 13th start of the season, junior Stephanie Damroth gave up a one-run homer in the top of the second inning to her counterpart, Manhattanville freshman pitcher Alyssa Taylor. The Valiants then tacked on two more runs in the top of the third to take a 3-0 lead. However, the Hawks rallied back in the bottom half of the inning after sophomore outfielder Josephine Estevez led off with a single and was brought home two batters later by senior outfielder Stephanie Alves. Senior catcher Jackie Frank and junior short stop Megan McKenna each had RBI doubles in the inning to knot the game up a three a piece.

Manhattanville answered right back with two runs in the top of the fourth, followed by single-run innings in the sixth and seven to take a 7-3 lead and eventual win. Damroth went seven innings for the Hawks, striking out four batters and allowing four earned runs to fall to 6-6 on the year. Taylor had four strikeouts and three earned runs in seven innings on the mound for the Valiants. McKenna finished the game hitting 2-for-3 with a run batted in and scored, while Alves went 2-for-4 with a RBI.

Despite registering just three hits in game two, the Hawks had two chances with runners on base, but each time their advances were thwarted by Manhattanville who earned their second shutout victory of the season. Hunter sophomore Lauren Stensland went seven innings, striking out two batters and allowed three earned runs to fall to 6-6 on the season. M'ville junior Samantha Howe improved to 8-7 on the year after striking out five batters and allowing three hits.

Hunter (12-12, 6-2 CUNYAC) return to action on Saturday, when they host the College of Staten Island for a key CUNY Athletic Conference doubleheader starting at Noon at Murphy Field on the campus of Fordham University. Those in attendance will then get some bonus action as the Hawks have scheduled a makeup doubleheader with the New York City College of Technology following the second game with Staten Island.