Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Manhattan freshman Kyle Murphy launched a game winning solo home run as the Jaspers took a 2-1 game one victory over Columbia (18-16) in local non-conference baseball action on Wednesday. Jaspers' freshman Joe Rock went yard twice in game two of the doubleheader lifting Manhattan (20-13) to its sixth straight win at Van Cortlandt Park.
Jaspers' game one freshman starter John Soldinger pitched a gem out-dueling a solid Lions' pitching staff with the complete game effort. Soldinger went eight innings yielding just five hits and one earned run, while striking out four batters.
It wasn't until Manhattan got down to its last out in the seven inning game that the Jaspers offense provided Soldinger run support. Columbia sent out senior lefty Derek Squires to close the seventh with a one run lead as he entered the game with a mere 1.80 ERA. Junior outfielder Mark Onorati got right to work on Squires by tallying his third hit of a 3-for-4 effort at the plate in the lead off spot. Pinch runner Giancarlo Santillo advanced to second on an infield ground out, and then two batters later with two outs junior Mike McCann delivered a clutch RBI double forcing extra innings tied at 1-1.
In the top of the eighth, Soldinger was assisted out of a jam after allowing a lead off double, and then putting runners on the corners with a one out walk. Murphy made the defensive play of the day when he tracked down a blooper in shallow center field and doubled up Lions' pinch runner Nick Crucet before he retreated to first base.
Murphy put the game to rest in the bottom of the eighth inning when he turned on a ball sending it over the left field fence. The Waterbury, Conn. native hit 2-for-4 in the contest. McCann contributed a 2-for-3 batting effort in game one and had three RBI in the doubleheader.
In game two, the Jaspers erased a one run deficit in the third inning with McCann's two run single down the right field line to grab a 2-1 lead. Columbia answered back when Alexander Aurrichio hit a solo blast to lead off the fourth locking the contest at two.
Rock delivered the go ahead two-run homer in the fourth inning, which sent Jaspers' starting pitcher Mike Giordano out of the game in position for his fourth win of the season. Giordano yielded just three hits in four innings of work.
Freshman right-hander Mike Gonzalez was untouchable on the hill for the fifth and sixth innings. The product of Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, did not allow a hit or a walk, and had one strikeout in the very effective middle relief effort. In the sixth inning, Rock struck again with his second home run of his young collegiate career to give the Jaspers a four run cushion (6-2).
Senior Tom Moran retired all three batters faced in the final frame to secure Manhattan's 20th victory. Onorati's brilliant fielding at second base put out the first two Lions, which included a diving catch in shallow right field. Moran rang up his 12th strikeout of the year for the last out.
Manhattan returns to action this weekend when the Jaspers travel to the University of Alabama at Birmingham to begin a three game series. Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m. EST.
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