Pfeiffer Pulls Away to Eliminate Manhattanville, 7-2 in NCAA Regional action
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (May 15, 2026) – Pfeiffer used a blend of speed, timely hitting and a complete-game pitching performance from
Mollie Bulla to secure a 7-2 victory to eliminate Manhattanville in Game 5 of the NCAA Softball Regional on Friday afternoon.
The Falcons (40-10) struck early and never looked back, scoring in six of seven innings while piling up 12 hits and creating constant pressure on the bases.
Pfeiffer set the tone in the opening frame when
Landry Stewart ignited the offense with a walk and subsequent steal before
Brooke Piper delivered an RBI single up the middle for a 1-0 lead. The Falcons widened the gap in the second inning, capitalizing on control issues from Manhattanville starter Tahlia Smith. After loading the bases, Bulla helped her cause by lining a two-run single to center to push the advantage to 3-0.
Aggressive baserunning remained a constant theme. Pfeiffer swiped nine bases in the game, including four by Stewart, who also scored twice and reached base four times. The Falcons' speed repeatedly put runners in scoring position and forced Manhattanville into difficult defensive situations.
Pfeiffer added another run in the third on an RBI single from
Ky Perdue, then extended the lead further in the fourth.
Kirstyn Herman, who finished 3-for-4, delivered an RBI hit before another run crossed on a defensive miscue, pushing the margin to 6-1.
Manhattanville (36-10) showed signs of life in the middle innings. Isabella Tansey drove in a run with a single in the third, and Emma Foster later connected on a solo home run—accounting for both Valiants runs. However, that was as close as they would get.
Bulla took care of the rest in the circle. The Pfeiffer right-hander threw a complete game, allowing two runs on eight hits with just one walk while striking out four on 99 pitches. She consistently induced ground balls and limited extra-base damage, surrendering only the lone home run.
The Falcons added an insurance run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from
Charly Cooper, closing out the scoring and reinforcing their control of the game.
Beyond Herman's three-hit performance, Piper added two hits and an RBI, while Bulla contributed two RBIs at the plate. Pfeiffer's lineup produced seven RBIs overall and drew seven walks, showcasing both depth and discipline.
With the win, Pfeiffer advanced in the regional bracket and will take on the national top-seed and host Virginia Wesleyan at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 16.
