Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Jaspers' baseball Class of 2010 continued its longstanding dominance at Van Cortlandt Park on Saturday as Manhattan (28-17, 13-8 MAAC) swept its doubleheader with Iona (9-37, 3-18 MAAC) on Senior Day. Manhattan took a 7-1 victory in game one and a 10-2 triumph in the second game to maintain its unblemished home mark (13-0) this season as the six members of the senior class improved to 53-9-1 (.849) over their last four years in Riverdale. Between wins Manhattan honored seniors Anthony Armenio, Tom Costigan, Mike Gazzola, Zac Goyer, Tom Moran and Kevin Nieto for their hard work and dedication to the program over their careers.
In game one, freshman starter John Soldinger pitched his second complete game victory of the season to improve to 5-2. Soldinger retired 12 of the first 13 batters faced with his only mistake coming in the second inning when he gave up a solo homer to Gaels' first baseman Mike Chiaravallot. He finished with five strikeouts, while allowing just four hits.
Jaspers' junior right fielder Mike McCann tied the game in the third inning with a solo blast to right field. Two batters later, senior Kevin Nieto smashed a two-run shot giving Manhattan a 3-1 advantage. It was Nieto's 23rd career homer and eighth this season.
Nieto added another run to the Jaspers' total in the fifth inning with a RBI single. Later in the frame, junior first baseman Austin Sheffield sent a homer well over the scoreboard in left field to go ahead 5-1. Nieto hit 2-for-3 in the clean up spot and Sheffield went 3-for-3.
Manhattan tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth inning on Mark Onorati's sacrifice fly and McCann's RBI single. McCann finished 3-for-4, which marked his team-leading ninth 3-hit performance and 16th multi-hit game.
Iona starting pitcher Justin Wiley went the distance yielding 11 hits and seven earned runs as his record dropped to 4-5.
In game two, the Jaspers went on a two-out rally in the first inning lighting up the scoreboard with seven runs. Senior catcher Anthony Armenio began his 3-for-3 game with his RBI single to get the first run across. Kyle Murphy was hit by pitch with the bases loaded to get the next run in, and then freshman designated hitter Anthony Vega's hustle to beat out an infield grounder scored the third run keeping the inning alive for Nick Camastro. Camastro took advantage of his bases loaded opportunity smashing a grand slam, his first collegiate home run.
Manhattan starter Eric Luksis went six innings for the Jaspers with three strikeouts to get his fourth win of the season. He let in runs in the first and second inning, but allowed just three hits over the next four scoreless innings.
Murphy tacked on a run in the third inning with a single to left center and in the fourth inning Armenio contributed his second RBI of the game with a single through the right side. Sheffield knocked in the Jaspers' 10th run with his second double of the day in the sixth inning.
Jasper relievers Zac Goyer, Rob Ardino and Tom Moran dominated the final three innings. The trio each pitched a frame and combined for four strikeouts while allowing only one hit.
With the victories, Manhattan extended the third longest home win streak in NCAA Division I to 14 games. The Jaspers wrap up the regular-season slate on Thursday and Friday when they host Siena for their three game conference series. Thursday's doubleheader is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Van Cortlandt Park.
