Riverdale, N.Y. (May 1, 2007)- Manhattan College posted a 7-5 win over Fordham University this afternoon at Van Cortlandt Park in the annual Battle of the Bronx game. With the win, the Jaspers improve to 28-12 on the season, while the Rams fall to 23-19. Freshman Brian Pendergast worked 4.2 scoreless innings of relief to improve to 6-0 on the season, and senior shortstop Rene Ruiz drove in two runs and scored two more.
Manhattan scored twice in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of taking advantage of four walks to push across two runs without the benefit of a hit. Mike Garcia tallied an RBI with a bases loaded walk, the fourth straight free pass issued to Manhattan batters, before Dom Lombardi plated another with an RBI fielder's choice.
The teams scored two runs apiece in the second inning, with Fordham knotting the score at 2-2 with a two-RBI single before the Jaspers regained their two-run advantage with RBI hits from Ruiz and Matt Rizzotti.
The Rams responded again in the top of the third, scoring twice to level the score at 4-4, and had a runner on second with one out in the fourth when Pendergast entered the game and retired the first eight batters he faced to shut down the Fordham offense. After a leadoff single in the seventh, the rookie twirler set down the final six batters he faced to set up Manhattan closer Tom Moran for his fifth save of the season. The fellow freshman already ranks third on the Jaspers' single season list, and tied for third on the career list.
While Pendergast was holding down the Fordham offense, Manhattan began to pull away. The Jaspers regained the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth, as Ryan Masters singled leading off, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on an error. In the sixth, Kevin Nieto reached on an infield single with two outs, stole second and advanced to third when the catcher's throw went into center field, and scored on a wild pitch. Finally, in the eighth, Ruiz was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Fordham plated a run, and had the tying run at second with two outs, but Kevin Nieto made a nice play to record the final out.
Manhattan returns to action this weekend, traveling to Fairfield, Conn. to battle MAAC foe Fairfield University in a three-game conference series beginning Saturday, May 5 at 12 noon.
