RIVERDALE, N.Y. -- Tied 5-5 going into the ninth inning, the Manhattan College baseball team mounted a two-out, six-run rally in the top of the frame to win the opening game of a three-game set with MAAC rival Siena (3-19, 0-4 MAAC), 11-5. With the victory Manhattan improves to 10-7 overall and stay perfect with a 4-0 MAAC mark.
After Will DeRuve fouled out to third to open the top of the ninth for the Jaspers, Kevin Nieto singled but Mike McCann flied out to center for the second out. With Mark Onorati at the plate, Nieto advanced to second on a wild pitch and then Onorati intentionally walked. Chad Salem then walked to load the bases. Anthony Armenio singled to center to drive in two runs to make the score 7-5. Perez then singled through the right side to score an eighth run. Then, Austin Sheffield slammed a key, three-run homer to bring the score to 11-5, capping a 4-for-5 day at the plate.
Tom Moran, who had gotten the last out in the bottom of the eighth inning for Manhattan, then shut the Saints down in the bottom of the ninth, giving up a double to open the inning, then getting a ground out to short, giving up a single, before recording a strike out and fly ball to end the game.
Moran got the win, running his record to 2-1. In addition to Sheffield's strong hitting performance, other offensive stars for Manhattan included Ruben Perez, who went 3-for-5, Armenio, who went 2-for-4 and Nieto, who went 2-for-5. Mike Gazzola pitched the first 7 1/3 inning for the Jaspers, giving up only two earned runs on six hits.
Manhattan got the first lead of the game in the third inning when they scored two runs. Sheffield singled to left center. Jamie Fitzgerald sacrificed Sheffield to second. DeRuve grounded out to second, with Sheffield advancing to third. Nieto then singled down the right field line to score Sheffield, and then McCann doubled down the right field line to score Nieto.
The Jaspers opened up the lead to 5-0 in the fourth inning. Salem singled to center field to open the inning. Armenio then followed with a single through the right side advancing Salem to second. Perez then doubled to left center to get two RBIs. Sheffield struck out looking, but Fitzgerald walked on a 3-2 pitch with Perez advancing to third on a wild pitch. DeRuve reached on a fielding error by the Siena second baseman to get the third run of the inning across.
After both teams posted zeros in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, Siena struck for five runs in the bottom of the eighth on four hits to tie the game at 5-5, setting the stage for the big ninth inning two-out rally for the Jaspers.
Manhattan and Siena will square off tomorrow in a doubleheader to close the three-game series. First pitch for the first game is set for noon.
