Pfeiffer Drops 2-1 Decision to Manhattanville in NCAA Regional Opener
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (May 14, 2026) — Pfeiffer dropped a tightly contested 2-1 decision to Manhattanville on Thursday afternoon in the opening round of the NCAA Softball Regional at Broyles Field at TowneBank Park on the campus of Virginia Wesleyan University.
Manhattanville wasted no time, scoring both of its runs in the top of the first inning. After a leadoff walk and a stolen base, Josie O'Leary delivered an RBI single to plate the game's first run. Isabella Tansey followed with an RBI double down the left-field line, giving the Valiants a quick 2–0 advantage.
Pfeiffer responded in the bottom of the second inning with its lone run of the game.
Brooke Piper and
E.A. Nance opened the frame with back-to-back singles, setting the table for
Kirstyn Herman, who ripped an RBI double down the left-field line to cut the deficit to 2–1.
From there, both teams settled into a pitcher's duel. Pfeiffer ace
Abigail Bowman rebounded from the first inning and turned in a strong complete-game effort, allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out six over seven innings. Manhattanville's Jori Wilkendorf matched her throughout the afternoon, going the distance while limiting the Falcons to one run on seven hits.
Pfeiffer managed opportunities to even the score but couldn't come up with the timely hit. The Falcons scattered seven hits, including two from leadoff hitter
Landry Stewart, but were limited to just three runners left on base and did not advance a runner past second base after the second inning.
Defensively, Pfeiffer kept the game within reach by holding Manhattanville scoreless over the final six innings. Bowman worked efficiently through the middle and late frames, consistently inducing weak contact to prevent the Valiants from extending their lead.
Despite the early deficit, Pfeiffer remained within striking distance throughout, but Manhattanville's clean defensive performance — error-free behind Wilkendorf — helped preserve the narrow victory.
With the loss, Pfeiffer (38-10) moves into the elimination bracket of the regional and will look to forward to their 1:30 p.m. game against John Jay College on Friday afternoon.
