GAME 2 BOXSCOREBuffalo, N.Y. (May 18, 2006)- After waiting out an 80 minute rain delay, Manhattan pounded out 16 runs on 20 hits to power past Canisius, 16-2, in the first of two games this afternoon at the Demske Sports Complex, before falling, 14-5, in the nightcap.
Chris Cody picked up his 10th win of the season in the first game, while
John Fitzpatrick continued his torrid offense of late, going 5-6 with two homers, four runs, and seven RBI on game one.
The Jaspers came out of the gates quickly, rallying with two outs to score four runs, with
Matt Rizzotti, Fitzpatrick, and
Dom Lombardi each tallying an RBI. Manhattan would score four more in the second, the first on an RBI sacrifice fly by
Mike Garcia, with the next three coming around on a three-run homer by Fitzpatrick.
The game would be delayed for almost an hour at this points, but the delay would not cool off the Jasper bats, as Manhattan would plate single runs in the third and fourth on solo homers by
Ryan Marcoux and Fitzpatrick, before Canisius would get on the board with a solo blast of its own in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 10-1 Manhattan
The Jaspers would put the game out of reach with two runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh, before the teams would each score on more run over the final two innings to provide the final margin.
Cody (10-2) worked the first six innings, allowing one run while striking out nine.
Rene Guerra worked the final three innings, allowing one run on one hit, adding four strikeouts for his second save of the season.
The second game started off favorably for Manhattan, as
Rene Ruiz's RBI fielder's choice scored Fitzpatrick, giving the Jaspers a 1-0 lead, a lead they would carry into the bottom of the fourth.
In the decisive inning, Canisius connected on both two- and three-run homers, tallying eight runs on eight hits to take an 8-1 lead.
A
Nick Derba RBI groundout and a Marcoux solo homer brought Manhattan to within five, 8-3, but the Griffs would score six runs in the bottom of the sixth to open up a 14-3 lead.
The Jaspers would try and mount a comeback in the top of the seventh, as Fitzpatrick hit his third homer of the day, a two-run shot to center field to make the score 14-5, but the rally ended there.
Fitzpatrick's blast, his 14 of the season, moved him into the top spot in the MAAC, while his nine RBI on the day extended his conference lead, as he leads the MAAC with 57 RBI. The 57 RBI matches Rizzotti's total from last year as a program season best.
