Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? Freshman left-hander Dan Forman struck out 11 batters in his second complete game of the season leading Manhattan (14-14-1, 6-3) to a 7-5 victory over Niagara (13-16, 4-5) this afternoon at Van Cortlandt Park. The Jaspers took the series with the Purple Eagles, 2-1, despite dropping the opening contest of today's doubleheader 8-1.
Forman got into a grove in the fifth inning of today's rubber match striking out the side in a 5-5 ballgame. Forman, a local product from St. Francis Prep, was dominant down the stretch striking out nine of the final 15 outs of the contest. He twirled all nine innings, and allowed four earned runs in his fourth win of the season.
The contest proved to be a see-saw battle early on as there were four lead changes over the first three innings.
Niagara got on the scoreboard first posting a pair of runs in the second inning to take a 2-0 edge. Purple Eagles' right fielder Jonathan Smith connected on a two RBI double sending Chris Leendertse and Steve Baldinelli around the diamond.
The Jaspers responded quickly in the bottom half of the inning when Anthony Armenio blasted a three run homer over the right field wall to give Manhattan a 3-2 advantage. It marked Armenio's second homer of the season. He went 1-for-2 from the plate.
Niagara put up two more runs in the top of the third, including Tim Alberts RBI double to the right center gap. The Purple Eagles regained a 4-3 lead.
Manhattan matched Niagara by also scoring two runs in the third, but then the Purple Eagles evened the ballgame at 5-5 on a Leendertse lead off solo home run in the top of the fourth. He went 3-for-7 over both games of the doubleheader.
Senior catcher Dom Lombardi knocked in the Jaspers' go ahead run in the bottom of the fifth when he singled down the left field line sending Kevin Nieto across the plate. Jaspers' right fielder Eric Nieto added an insurance run courtesy of a RBI single in the sixth.
Mark Onorati and Lombardi each notched two hits in the winning effort.
Freshman Chad Salem connected on his team-high fourth home run of the season in the second inning of game one to give the Jaspers a 1-0 advantage. However, Niagara starter Daniel Morari limited Manhattan to just four more hits in the ball game, and struck out four helping the Purple Eagles to an 8-1 decision.
Manhattan sophomore starter Brian Pendergast threw all seven innings, and allowed six earned runs on 12 hits. With the loss, Pendergast falls to 2-3 on the season.
Kevin Nieto delivered one of the most thrilling plays of the ballgame in the fourth inning when he robbed Alberts of a base hit with a brilliant diving catch in center field. Nieto had a hit in each game today extending his consecutive game hit streak to 13.
The Jaspers travel to Bridgeport, Conn. on Wednesday for their non-conference meeting with Sacred Heart. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. Manhattan returns to Van Cortlandt Park on Saturday to begin its series with local rival Iona.
