Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? Senior co-captain Ruben Perez hit a two-RBI double in the top of the 12th inning to lead Manhattan (29-12) to a 15-13 non-conference victory at Albany (17-24) on Wednesday. Jasper centerfielder Kevin Nieto finished with four hits and five runs, while sophomore teammate Austin Sheffield went 4-for-5 from the plate with three RBI. The four hour and twenty-two minute escapade featured 36 hits.
The Great Danes erased a four run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the contest at 13-13 and force extra frames. Albany's one out rally featured four hits and two hit batters off Manhattan reliever Tom Moran. Albany right fielder Brendan Rowland provided the game tying sacrifice fly with the bases loaded for his second RBI of the game.
Moran rebounded quickly by striking out the final batter in the ninth inning, stranding three runners on base, including the potential game winning run 90-feet away. The right hander from Farmington, Conn. settled down in extra innings holding the Great Danes scoreless while allowing just two hits.
Moran pitched five innings, struck out three batters and picked up his fifth win of the year.
The Jaspers capitalized on the Great Danes eighth pitcher, Dave Noble, in the top of the 12th inning. Noble entered in the 11th inning and recorded the final out after taking over the hill for Alexander Beaulieu, Albany's most efficient pitcher of the game. Beaulieu held the Jaspers scoreless for two and two third innings, beginning in the ninth. He allowed just one hit over this stretch.
Mark Onorati led off the 12th and reach base by getting hit by a pitch. This was followed by Nieto's single up the middle, then Anthony Armenio's walk to load the bases and set the stage for Perez's heroics. Perez took advantage of the big opportunity as he lined the game winning hit down the left field line, which pushed Onorati and Nieto to across home plate.
Onorati finished with three hits and stole a base. He was one of seven Jaspers to post a multi-hit game. Nieto added two steals to his season tally, which increased to 22.
Sophomore outfielder Mike McCann led of the game with a solo home run to get the Jaspers on the scoreboard first. It was his 11th of the season. Three batters later, Armenio propelled Manhattan to a 3-0 advantage with his eighth blast of the year, as he launched a two-run shot. Armenio led the way with four RBI and is tied with Nieto with a team-best 53 this season.
Albany matched the Jaspers three spot with three runs of its own in the bottom of the first. The Great Danes added one run in the second on Gary Pitcheralle's RBI triple, and another in the third on a RBI single from Kyle Crean to take a 5-3 edge.
Pitcheralle batted 4-for-7 and Crean was 3-for-7.
Manhattan outscored Albany, seven runs to four, between the fourth through sixth innings to regain a 10-9 advantage. The Jaspers tacked on three well needed insurance runs in the eighth inning to build a 13-9 lead, before the mini collapse. Austin Sheffield drove the 13th run across the plate with on his third double of the game.
Freshman Matt Jordan started the Jaspers' community pitching effort. He went two innings, limited Albany to three hits and four earned runs. Mike Tibbetts and Mike Giordano also contributed a few innings in the midweek contest.
Albany utilized 22 players in the marathon, including nine pitchers. Starter Travis Wilson pitched three and two third innings and let in four earned runs.
The Jaspers travel to Niagara this weekend as the squad returns to conference action for the remainder of the regular-season. Saturday's doubleheader with the Purple Eagles begins at noon.
