Riverdale, N.Y. (March 26, 2006)- For the first time since the 2002 season, Manhattan and Siena were able to get in all three games of their MAAC series, and the Jaspers'
Nick Derba ended things in grand fashion, belting a game-ending home run in the bottom of the ninth to give Manhattan a 5-4 win and a sweep of the series with the Saints. The Jaspers even their overall record at 8-8, but jump out to a 3-0 record in MAAC games. Siena falls to 2-16, 0-3 in MAAC play.
Siena got on the board first on a Jake Willis solo homer in the top of the first, but Manhattan responded in the bottom of the frame, evening the score at 1-1 as Derba connected on a one out double, and came around to score one batter later, when
Mike Garcia singled up the middle.
The Saints would regain the lead in the top of the third on an RBI double by Billy Lazio, and would hold the lead until the bottom of the fifth, when Garcia would again come up with a big hit, this time a single through the left side to chase home
Eric Nieto.
Manhattan would take a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Jourdain Dutton, pinch running for
Ryan Marcoux, scored the first run when he tagged and scored on
Dom Lombardi's RBI sacrifice fly.
Rene Ruiz would score the second run on a wild pitch.
Siena would not go quietly, knotting the score at 4-4 in the top of the seventh on a two-run home run by Rick Seltzer to deep center field.
Neither team could manage a serious scoring threat until Derba led off the bottom of the ninth with his second homer of the season.
Kyle Wirtz worked the ninth to improve to 2-0 on the season.
Jesse Darcy worked the first six, allowing two runs while striking out seven.
Josh Santerre struck out three over two-plus innings before yielding to Wirtz.
Will Hassett took the loss for Siena.
Derba (2-4, two runs, RBI), Garcia (2-4, two RBI), Ruiz (2-4, run), and Nieto (2-3, run) each posted multi-hit games for Manhattan.
