Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? Junior center fielder Kevin Nieto blasted two home runs and drove in four RBI leading Manhattan (12-9) to a 9-4 victory over Albany (5-16) in its home opener on Wednesday at Van Cortlandt Park. Jaspers' sophomore Mike McCann continued his hot hitting and extended his consecutive game hit streak to 14 games.
Manhattan freshman Matt Jordan picked up his second win of the season in the first start of his collegiate career. Jordan pitched three scoreless innings and allowed just one hit. The southpaw from Kingston, N.Y. showed poise in the top of the second when he battled out of a bases loaded jam with no one out. Jordan struck out two batters, and then forced Great Danes outfielder Gary Pitcheralle to ground out in order to retire the side.
The Jaspers' jumped out to a three run lead in the opening frame. Chad Salem drove in the first run, and then Austin Sheffield delivered a two-RBI single with two outs.
Nieto hit a solo homer to right center in the second inning to extend the Jaspers lead to 4-0. Then in the third, Sheffield knocked in his third RBI of the contest on a stand up double into right field. Senior co-captain Ruben Perez scored on the hit after reaching base on a two out single.
The Great Danes used Mike Tirri's two-run homer in the fourth to pull within 5-2, but Manhattan responded quickly with Nieto's second bomb of the contest in the bottom half of the inning. The Miami native, squeezed the three-run shot just inside the right field foul pole. Nieto leads the Jaspers with seven home runs this season.
Albany worked for two more runs in the sixth, before the Manhattan bullpen closed out the game. Freshman Mike Giordano and junior Mike Gazzola held the Great Danes hitless in the seventh and eighth innings, while Tom Moran shutdown Albany in the ninth recording two strikeouts to secure the five run non-conference triumph.
Manhattan left fielder Mark Onorati sparked the squad batting in the lead off spot. He led all players going 3-for-5 from the plate, while adding two runs. McCann, Salem and Sheffield also recorded multi-hit games.
The Jaspers return to MAAC play this weekend hosting Marist for a three game series. Saturday's doubleheader starts at noon at Van Cortlandt Park.
