Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Jaspers' red-shirt freshman Ramon Ortega hit a two-run homer over the left field wall in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Manhattan baseball team to a 9-8 victory over Albany (1-20) on Wednesday at Van Cortlandt Park. Junior third baseman Chad Salem hit 3-for-4 and scored four runs to help Manhattan (15-9) remain undefeated in its home park this season winning its fourth straight game.
Manhattan freshman reliever John Soldinger struck out two of three batters retired in the top of the ninth to keep within striking distance (8-7) of the Great Danes. The dominant pitching performance set the stage for the Jaspers ninth inning rally and Soldinger's first win of his collegiate career.
Salem led off the bottom of the ninth with a double that rolled to the fence in left center field. Ortega got a hold of the very next pitch off of Albany freshman lefty Kevin Bartlett for the game winning shot, which marked his second home run of the season. Bartlett was credited with his first loss in six appearances this season.
Manhattan utilized 21 players, including seven pitchers, in the 3 hour 11 minute marathon. The Jaspers broke a 1-1 tie scoring four runs in the fourth inning, with all the runs going against Albany starter Nolan Gaige. Freshman Nick Camastro delivered with the bases loaded by notching a two-run double to left field. In the very next at bat, senior outfielder Kevin Nieto extended Manhattan's lead two 5-1 with a two-run single.
Gaige went 3 2/3 innings with three walks and two strikeouts. He was outshined by Manhattan starter Mike Gonzalez who allowed just one hit over three innings of work.
The teams matched each other scoring two runs in the fifth inning to make it a 7-3 ballgame. In the top of the frame, Great Danes second baseman Brian Bullard recorded a two-run single. Bullard went 3-for-5 and scored two runs. Manhattan responded with Austin Sheffield and Kyle Murphy back-to-back RBI singles.
Albany scored five unanswered runs over the sixth, seventh and eight innings to take an 8-7 advantage, before Soldinger shut it down in the ninth inning.
The Jaspers scattered 14 hits in the contest. Salem launched his team-leading sixth home run in the second inning. Freshman outfielder Anthony Vega and Sheffield each were perfect 2-for-2 from the plate. Camastro and Murphy also had two hits apiece.
Manhattan returns to MAAC action on Saturday when the Jaspers travel to Rider for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. in Lawrenceville, N.J. The teams will complete the three game set on Sunday at noon.
