Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Junior outfielder Mark Onorati laced a two-run single to cap a three run fifth inning as Manhattan (8-4) edged Seton Hall (5-8), 3-2 at Owen T Carroll Field in South Orange, N.J. The victory marked the Jaspers third against a BIG EAST opponent in the last four games. The Manhattan bullpen anchored a solid pitching effort yielding just four hits without an earned run over the final five frames. Freshman reliever John Soldinger earned his fourth save of the season.
Seton Hall jumped out to a two run advantage posting runs in the second and third innings. Pirates' first baseman Michael Betz scored on a bases loaded walk in the second off Jaspers' sophomore starter Matt Jordan. In the third inning, Betz lined a RBI double to extend Seton Hall's lead to 2-0.
Manhattan junior lefty Rob Ardino came out of the bullpen in the fifth and set the stage retiring three of four batters faced. The Jaspers run support came in the fifth inning beginning with senior centerfielder Kevin Nieto's RBI single, which scored red-shirt freshman Ramon Ortega who led off the inning with a walk. Nieto was 2-for-3 at the plate.
Two batters later Onorati singled through the left side sending Nieto and freshman second baseman Kyle Murphy across the plate. Murphy also hit 2-for-3 in the ball game.
Ardino got the first two outs in the seventh before turning the ball over to senior Tom Moran who maintained the one run edge into the eighth inning, allowing just one hit. Ardino was credited with the victory, the first of his career.
Jaspers' freshman Mike Gonzalez twirled a scoreless eighth, retiring three of four batters faced to set up Soldinger in the ninth. The local product from Bay Shore, N.Y. recorded the first two outs, including a strikeout. After allowing a triple to freshman outfielder Scott Kalamar, Nieto made a game-saving diving catch to wrap up the Jaspers' second win over the Pirates in the last two seasons.
Chad Salem also had a solid offensive day for Manhattan going 2-for-3 with his sixth double of the year.
Manhattan returns to action on Friday when the Jaspers travel to Lynchburg, Va. to start a three game series with Liberty. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
