Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Jaspers' senior outfielder Mike McCann hit .571 and drove in three runs helping the Manhattan baseball team to a doubleheader sweep at Siena (7-13, 0-2 MAAC) on Saturday. Starting pitchers John Soldinger and Mike Giordano were dominant on the hill for Manhattan (7-11, 2-0 MAAC) as the Jaspers earned a 4-1 victory in game one and 3-2 triumph in the nightcap.
Soldinger gave Manhattan his third complete game effort of the season in the first contest and struck out a career-high 10 batters. The Bay Shore, N.Y. native yielded just two hits, but did not give up his first hit until the sixth inning.
Soldinger retired the first 12 Siena batters in order allowing the Jaspers to take a 2-0 lead by the fourth inning. Manhattan got its first run of the afternoon in the second inning when freshman second baseman Yoandry Galan doubled in sophomore outfielder Anthony Vega, who got the offense started with a two-out single. Then in the fourth inning sophomore designated hitter Ramon Ortega extended Manhattan's lead to 2-0 when he scored on a wild pitch after leading off the frame with a double to left field.
Saints' senior first baseman Kevin Quaranto smashed his first home run of the season in the seventh inning to make it a 2-1 ballgame. Although, Soldinger settled back in and sat down eight of the final 10 Siena hitters, while the Jasper offense gave him run support in the eighth and ninth innings. Ortega laced another double in the eighth inning to knock in Manhattan's third run, and then McCann delivered a sacrifice fly in the ninth to send home senior Mark Onorati, who led the inning off with a double.
Soldinger improved to 3-1 in five starts this season. Jaspers' freshman catcher Mikey Miranda went 2-for-3 from the plate. Siena starting pitcher senior Kyle Sumple was accessed the loss allowing nine hits and two earned runs after 7 2/3 innings of action.
In game two, Manhattan broke the scoreless tie in the fifth inning by posting two runs when Galan scored on a passed ball and McCann followed with a RBI double. Giordano, a junior right-handed pitcher from Bedford, N.Y., carried the Jaspers through the first five innings as he retired 15 of his first 16 batters faced. He finished with five strikeouts in the seven inning affair.
The Saints touched Giordano for one run in the sixth inning when second baseman Dan Paolini recorded a two-out RBI double to pull within 2-1. Manhattan responded immediately in the top of the seventh when McCann knocked in his second run of the ballgame with a single to left field. Onorati, who hit 2-for-3 in the lead off spot, scored on the play for his second run in the contest.
Siena pulled within 3-2 in the seventh inning when sophomore third baseman Mike Allen got a run across on an infield ground out. However, Giordano finished strong as he struck out the next batter to close the contest and earn his second victory of the season.
Siena starter Justin Brantley received credit for the loss and fell to 2-3 on the year. The sophomore right-hander pitched six innings, allowed eight hits and three earned runs. Brantley struck out four batters.
McCann (3-for-3), Vega (2-for-2) and Galan (2-2) were each perfect from the plate in the contest.
Manhattan and Siena wrap up the three game MAAC opening series on Sunday with the final contest beginning at 1 p.m. in Loudonville, N.Y.
