Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan baseball team has hit its stride. The Jaspers have won their last six games after a doubleheader sweep of Fairfield (7-13, 1-4 MAAC) on Saturday at Van Cortlandt Park. The Jaspers were clicking on all cylinders with senior Mike McCann anchoring the offensive effort by driving in six runs on the afternoon. Jasper starting pitchers John Soldinger and Eric Luksis were dominant on the hill as they each tossed complete games as Manhattan (11-11, 5-0 MAAC) earned 6-2 and 6-1 victories.
Soldinger picked his fourth win of the season and struck out seven batters in game one. The Jaspers erased an early one run deficit thanks to McCann's career-high five RBI performance. The right fielder from Belle Harbor, N.Y. tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning with an infield ground ball with one-out. Then in the third inning, McCann extended Manhattan's lead to 3-1 with a sacrifice fly, which came after freshman shortstop Yoandry Galan scored on a throwing error.
Manhattan broke open the ballgame in the fifth inning with McCann's bases clearing, one-out three RBI triple. The clutch hit extended the Jaspers' advantage to 6-2.
Soldinger locked down the Stags the rest of the way by not allowing a hit from the sixth inning on. He closed out his fourth complete game of the season by striking out two of the three outs in the ninth inning. Fairfield starter Scott Gussaroff was accessed the loss after allowing all six earned runs and walking five batters in seven innings of work.
In game two, Manhattan received a superb pitching effort from Luksis who yielded just one earned run and struck out six batters in the seven inning affair. The sophomore from Wappingers Falls, N.Y. found his grove after letting in a run in the first inning on second baseman Tucker Nathans RBI single. Luksis allowed just three hits the rest of the way.
Jaspers' senior first baseman Austin Sheffield gave Manhattan a 2-1 advantage in the bottom of the first with a two-RBI double to center field. It was Sheffield's 14th RBI of the season. Sophomore outfielder Anthony Vega scored in the second inning after doubling to lead off the frame. Jaspers' senior Mark Onorati pushed Vega across home plate with a one-out infield ground ball.
McCann uncorked a solo home run in the third inning to send Manhattan ahead 4-1. The lefty slugger muscled an opposite field blast which landed well over the left field fence for his first of the year.
The Jaspers went ahead 6-1 in the sixth inning with Vega's second hit of the ballgame, a two-RBI stand up triple to left center field. McCann scored on the play for his third run of the game.
Manhattan sophomore shortstop Nick Camastro had a solid day defensively as he recorded 10 assists on the afternoon, without committing an error. Camastro helped turn two of the Jaspers' three double plays in the second contest.
Manhattan and Fairfield will play the final game of the series on Sunday at Van Cortlandt Park. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. Fans can listen to the live audio webcast and follow a live blog at GoJaspers.com.
