Box Score
FISHKILL, N.Y. - The Manhattan baseball team could not piece together another comeback win as the Jaspers dropped the opening game of the 2010 MAAC Championships, 7-5, to top-seeded Canisius (38-19) on Wednesday at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, N.Y. Manhattan (30-19) left 11 runners on base, including three in the ninth inning as the Jaspers move to the elimination round of the tournament on Thursday and will face #2 Marist.
The Jaspers ran into trouble with Canisius lefty ace Shane Davis who pitched 8 1/3 innings for his sixth straight victory over Manhattan. Davis outdueled Jaspers' starter Eric Luksis by allowing just three earned runs with three strikeouts. Luksis, a local product from Wappingers Falls, N.Y., went 3 2/3 innings with four hits and two strikeouts, but he yielded seven walks.
Manhattan struck first in the third inning when Mark Onorati delivered a one run single for his 48th RBI of the year and team-leading 76th hit. Kyle Murphy came in from second base, after walking and then moving into scoring position on Nick Camastro's sacrifice bunt. Camastro finished 2-for-3 and scored three of the Jaspers' five runs.
The Golden Griffs put up six runs in the fourth inning and chased Luksis out of the game, after working him for 94 pitches to get only 11 outs. The frame was prolonged due to a throwing error, allowing the potential second out in left fielder Will Chomicki to reach base. The inning began to unravel for the Jaspers after Luksis surrendered the Golden Griffs' first run on Ian Choy's chopper to second base. After loading the bases with a walk to power hitting Second Team All-MAAC honoree Steve McQuail, the Golden Griffs extended their lead to 3-1 with first baseman Brian Burton's two out single.
Manhattan then turned to senior lefty Mike Gazzola to provide relief out of the bullpen. Gazzola was touched up for the next three runs on Shane Wilson's two run double to left center and Paul Panik's RBI single, a hard hit ball that snuck under the glove of Jaspers' third baseman Chad Salem.
Senior center fielder Kevin Nieto recovered a run in the sixth inning, pulling Manhattan within 6-2 with a two out RBI single. Although, the Jaspers missed a prime opportunity in the frame by leaving the bases loaded when first baseman Austin Sheffield couldn't come up with his third straight hit.
McQuail opened the seventh inning by cracking the first pitch he saw out of left field to take a 7-2 lead, marking his 19th home run of the year.
Salem pushed across the Jaspers third run in the top of the seventh with a bases loaded sacrifice fly. In the top of the ninth, Salem added another RBI for his team leading 67th of the season and Manhattan got a second run on an error to get within three. Golden Griffs' closer Willson walked Anthony Armenio to load the bases, but then retired pinch hitter Anthony Vega to earn the two out save.
Gazzola finished out the final 4 1/3 innings yielding just two hits in the final three innings. The senior struck out four batters and gave up just one walk.
The Jaspers now must take the long route through the elimination bracket to earn the program's second MAAC crown. The first pitch on Thursday against the Red Foxes will be tossed at 3 p.m.
