Softball falls in their first two games of the season. GOJASPERS.COM / COURTESY
Zeke Jazwinski Sports Editor
Softball
The Manhattan University softball team (0-2) opened up its season on Friday at H-E-B Field, taking on Prairie View A&M (1-0) and Incarnate Word (1-0). The Jaspers would unfortunately lose both games, with the final scores being 7-1 and 12-4.
The game started off well for the Jaspers as sophomore Brianna Estevez grabbed the first hit of the 2026 season in the opening inning, putting one through the middle and later stealing second. In the bottom half of the frame, junior Karissa Spring was in the circle for the Jaspers, striking out her first two batters faced in the home half of the first.
After the first inning, Prairie View A&M took control of the game. The Panthers put up a five spot in the second, highlighted by a grand slam from Dyani McKinley. The Jaspers’ lone run came in the fourth when freshman Kaitlyn Moody doubled to center field, bringing in freshman Natalye DeBus. The Panthers would respond with two runs in the sixth, which secured the victory for them.
The Jaspers started off hot in the second game with two baserunners on in the first. Senior Sophia Kiseloski brought them all home with the first home run of Manhattan’s season. This gave the Jaspers an early 3-0 lead. The Cardinals would quickly respond with a two-run home run and another run to tie the game back up at 3-3.
Freshman Natalye DeBus joined the home run party with a solo bomb in the second, giving the Jaspers back their lead at 4-3. This would be the Jaspers’ last run of the day and after a single in the second by the Cardinals to drive in the run to tie it up, the Cardinals would score eight unanswered runs. The Jaspers will look to bounce back in the Elon Softball Invitational this week.
Men’s Basketball
The men’s basketball team (9-16, 5-9 MAAC) could not complete a comeback against the Peacocks of Saint Peter’s University (13-8, 10-3 MAAC) as they fell with a final score of 80-75.
It was a rough start for the Jaspers as they couldn’t sink a basket at the start of the game, while the Peacocks took advantage by taking a 17-point lead in the game’s first eight minutes. Sophomore Fraser Roxburgh put up a strong fight, scoring seven straight points on his own to cut the lead to single digits.
With about six minutes left in the half, junior Anthony Issac put in a couple buckets to cut the lead down even more. The Peacocks, however, quickly responded whenever the Jaspers looked like they could take the lead. The Peacocks would hit two 3-pointers before halftime to widen the lead back to eight.
The second half was full of runs. The Jaspers fell back and then went on a run to almost tie the game, with Roxburgh securing a career high with his 22 points, but the Peacocks showed up this game. Roxburgh hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game to cut it down to one, but it simply was not enough as the Jaspers fell 80-75. They look to bounce back on Saturday, Feb. 7, against Sacred Heart University.*
*Editor’s note: The men’s basketball team won against Sacred Heart University with a final score of 80-68.
Sophomore Fraser Roxburgh career night spoiled by the Peacocks. GOJASPERS.COM / COURTESY