Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan baseball team extended its consecutive game win streak to seven with a doubleheader sweep of Niagara (13-28, 9-8 MAAC) on Saturday in Riverdale. The Jaspers utilized just three pitchers to earn a 5-2 game one victory and a 12-1 triumph in the nightcap. Austin Sheffield went 4-for-5 (.800) from the plate and drove in three runs helping Manhattan (23-13, 9-5 MAAC) improve to a perfect 8-0 at Van Cortlandt Park this season.
In game one, senior starter Mike Gazzola pitched six solid innings to set the stage for a Jaspers typical late inning comeback victory. Gazzola turned the ball over to sophomore Mike Giordano in the seventh inning facing a 2-1 deficit. Giordano was brilliant as the yielded just one hit and did not walk a batter over the final three frames to become the first Jasper to pick up his fifth win this season.
Manhattan regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning working two runs off Purple Eagles' reliever Tyler Scott, who lost his second game of the season. The Jaspers tied the contest (2-2) with a one-out bases loaded walk, and then red-shirt freshman Ramon Ortega delivered the go-ahead score in the next at-bat with a RBI infield grounder.
Juniors Mark Onorati and Sheffield added a pair of insurance runs with RBI singles in the eighth inning to extend the lead to 5-2. Sheffield finished 3-for-4 with two RBI. Onorati hit 2-for-4 in the ballgame. Jaspers' freshman shortstop Nick Camastro had a career day batting a perfect 4-for-4, including his fifth double of the year.
In game two, senior right-hander Tom Costigan pitched the fourth complete game of his career en route to the Jaspers' 23rd win, propelling the team 10 games above .500. Costigan allowed just four hits and struck out three batters as he gained sole possession of second place on the program's career wins list (25).
The Jaspers' relentless offensive attack, which featured home run blasts by senior centerfielder Kevin Nieto and junior right fielder Mike McCann, gave Costigan more than enough run support. The outfield tandem drove in five runs in a game breaking six-run second inning. Nieto smashed a three-run homer to break a 1-1 tie, and then McCann capped the surge with a two-run double to extend the advantage to 6-1.
In the fourth inning, McCann completed his five RBI effort with a three run blast marking his sixth homer this year and 21st of his career. Junior third baseman Chad Salem posted his team leading 53rd RBI with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to go ahead 10-1. Then in the sixth inning, freshmen Joe Rock and Camastro contributed to the slugfest with RBI singles as Manhattan earned its fourth double digit win of the season.
Costigan improved to 5-2 on the hill. Niagara starter Marcus Spaulding was credited with the loss after lasting three innings while allowing four earned runs.
Manhattan will play the third game of its series with the Purple Eagles on Sunday at Van Cortlandt Park. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
