Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Jaspers fell behind early, but never gave up as the Manhattan baseball team earned a 9-7 comeback victory over Saint Peter's (8-15, 2-4 MAAC) on Monday at Van Cortlandt Park. Manhattan (14-9, 4-2 MAAC) used four runs in the eighth inning to record its 10th straight win over the Peacocks and sweep their regular-season series for the third straight year. Jaspers' junior first baseman Austin Sheffield hit 3-for-5, recorded his third home run of the season and posted three RBI. Senior reliever Tom Moran struck out three of the final four outs of the game for his first win of the campaign.
Peacocks' starting second baseman Conor Mullee took the mound in the eighth inning after already propelling Saint Peter's out to a 7-5 advantage with his bat. He hit 4-for-5 and drove in four runs. Mullee recorded the first out in his fourth relief pitching effort, before plunking Jaspers' freshman shortstop Nick Camastro and then walked Kevin Nieto and Mike McCann to load the bases. Junior Mark Onorati capitalized after another pitching change by lining a two run single down the left field line off Andrew Costello to tie the game at 7-7.
Third baseman Chad Salem gave Manhattan its first lead with a sacrifice fly to left field scoring McCann, who advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Designated hitter Anthony Armenio put the Jaspers out front 9-7 with a RBI single to right field, which capped the four run surge.
Armenio went 2-for-2 from the plate with his third homer of the season and he walked three times.
After getting the Jaspers out of an inherited bases loaded jam by striking out the final batter in the top of the eighth, Moran cruised through the ninth inning retiring three of four batters faced. The right-hander from Farmington, Conn. struck out Peacocks' catcher John Lynch for the final out of the ballgame securing his 10th career win.
Manhattan and Saint Peter's matched each other posting two runs in the first inning. Mullee got things going for the Peacocks in the top half of the inning with a RBI double to right center. In the bottom of the first, Onorati sent the Jaspers' first run across the plate with a sacrifice fly and then Sheffield followed with a RBI single.
Saint Peter's worked three runs off of Jaspers' starting pitcher Eric Luksis in the second inning to take a 5-2 lead, before the freshman from Wappingers Falls, N.Y. would settle in. Luksis battled through 6 1/3 innings and posted three strikeouts in his debut at Van Cortlandt Park.
Armenio hit a solo home run in the fifth inning as he pulled the ball over the right field wall. Saint Peter's responded in the seventh with Mullee's RBI double to rebuild a three run lead. In the bottom of the seventh, Sheffield sent a two run blast high over the left field fence to bring Manhattan within 6-5. After yielding another run in the top of the eighth Manhattan made its game winning surge in the bottom of the inning.
Peacocks' starting pitcher Ethan Jackson went 6 2/3 innings with eight hits, five earned runs and five strikeouts. Mullee was credited with the loss.
Manhattan returns to action on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. when the Jaspers host Albany in Riverdale.
