Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan baseball team split its doubleheader with Siena (27-26, 13-10) on Thursday at Van Cortlandt Park, winning game one 7-5 before falling 6-3 in the second contest. With the split, the Jaspers MAAC Tournament status is on hold for another day when the team's meet on Friday for their regular-season finale. Manhattan controls its own destiny; a win would earn the Jaspers a spot in the four team field at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, N.Y. next week.
In game one, Manhattan freshman starter Eric Luksis battled through seven innings on the hill leading to his fifth win of the season. Jaspers' left fielder Mark Onorati drove in the first two runs helping to the wire-to-wire victory. Senior reliever Tom Moran finished off a strong bullpen committee effort receiving credit for the 12th save of this career, tying him with Pat Widgren '00 for the most in program history.
Freshman designated hitter Anthony Vega scored the first run of the game in the second inning after reaching base on a wild pitch. Onorati later delivered the single to center field, which allowed Vega to cross the plate.
Siena tied the contest at 1-1 in the third inning on back-to-back singles from Anthony Giansanti and Mike Fish. Giansanti and Fish successfully executed a double steal, setting up power hitting sophomore Dan Paolini's sacrifice fly.
Vega emerged again to spark the Jaspers three run fourth inning with a two out single. Classmate Nick Camastro added a single up the middle, which took a hop off second base, giving Onorati the opportunity to break the one run tie with his single to center field. Senior centerfielder Kevin Nieto kept the inning alive with a RBI single to right field. Chad Salem was hit by a pitch later in the frame to get the third run across, putting Manhattan ahead 4-1.
The Jaspers received a 2-for-4 effort with three runs scored out of Vega. Camastro also hit 2-for-4.
Manhattan expanded its lead in the sixth inning starting with Mike McCann's double to right center. McCann scored on a base hit from Salem and then a fielding error. Salem was pushed around the bases with Armenio's RBI single to give Manhattan a 6-1 lead.
A scary moment for the Jaspers occurred in the top of the seventh inning when Luksis took a line drive off the head. After being attended to by the Manhattan training staff, Luksis shook it off and finished out the seventh inning. Luksis had one strike out and yielded only one walk as he won his fourth game in his last five conference starts.
Manhattan utilized relievers Mike Giordano, Rob Ardino and Moran to wrap up the final two innings. The trio allowed just two hits, with no earned runs or walks as Manhattan extended the third longest NCAA Division I consecutive game home win streak to 15 games.
In game two, Manhattan had trouble figuring out Siena starting pitcher Ryan Poplawski who allowed only two hits without an earned run as he improved to 6-1. The loss was the Jaspers first at Van Cortlandt Park this season.
The Saints scored a run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly from freshman Kyle Baldani, and then posted another in the third inning with Anthony Giansanti's solo homer. Manhattan pulled within 2-1 in the bottom of the third when freshman second baseman Kyle Murphy scored on a fielding error, after leading off the inning with a double.
Jaspers' freshman starting pitcher John Soldinger was cruising on the hill as he retired eight straight batters before running into trouble in the seventh inning. Siena struck for four runs on five hits in the frame, including Paolini's 26th home run of the year.
Manhattan worked two runs off its five run deficit in the seventh inning with RBIs from the bats of Onorati and Nieto. They were the first runs scored off Saints' closer Giansanti this season.
The Jaspers play their final game of the regular-season against the Saints on Friday at 12 p.m. in Riverdale. Manhattan's easiest route to the MAAC Championships is with a win, however the Jaspers have an outside chance to make it regardless, depending on results around the league.
