Box Score
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BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - In its final non-conference game of the season, the Manhattan College baseball team (27-16) pounded out 14 hits en route to an 11-3 victory over Sacred Heart (27-21) at Pioneer Park on Tuesday evening. Kevin Bonanni (Plainview, N.Y.) tossed six shutout innings to earn the win.
Manhattan struck early, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first. After Mark Onorati (Williston Park, N.Y.) led off the game with an infield single, consecutive hit batsmen loaded the bases for Mike McCann (Belle Harbor, N.Y.). McCann delivered a double to left center that knocked in a pair of runs. Up next was Austin Sheffield (Augusta, Ga.), who brought another run home with a groundout.
It remained 3-0 until the top of the seventh, when the Jaspers broke it open with a six-spot. Anthony Vega (Patchogue, N.Y.) started the inning with a double to left, then pinch hitter Andrew Gorecki (Smithtown, N.Y.) ripped an RBI single. After an error on Yoandry Galan's (Miami, Fla.) sacrifice bunt, Onorati delivered an RBI single to center. Nick Camastro (Lagrangeville, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game to load the bases, and Chad Salem (Rye, N.Y.) followed with a two-run single that chased Sacred Heart pitcher James Ineson. McCann lifted a sacrifice fly to center for Manhattan's fifth run of the inning before an RBI single by Sheffield.
Sacred Heart rallied for two runs in the seventh and added another in the eighth, but Manhattan responded with two more in the ninth. Salem started the inning with a single, and he scored on Kyle Murphy's (Waterbury, Conn.) two-run homer to left field.
Onorati had three of Manhattan's 14 hits, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Salem was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Sheffield also went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. McCann also contributed two hits, going 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs. Bonanni (2-1) was excellent in six innings, giving up four hits. The only time the Pioneers recorded two hits in an inning was the third, when Bonanni got out of the jam with a double play. Bonanni struck out one and walked two. Taylor Sewitt (Highland Mills, N.Y.) pitched the seventh and Rob Ardino (White Plains, N.Y.) finished up, striking out two over two innings.
Sacred Heart's seven hits were scattered among seven different players. Tyler Curry was 1-for-2 with an RBI, while Hunter Phillips had an RBI and scored a run. Chris Dioniso (1-2) took the loss after going the first 5.1 innings on the mound. He allowed three runs on five hits, struck out four and walked one.
The Jaspers conclude their home schedule this weekend when Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) rival Rider (28-15, 15-6 MAAC) visits Van Cortlandt Park for a three-game series. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 12 p.m., while a single contest on Sunday also gets underway at noon. Manhattan (16-1 MAAC) will honor its five seniors-Ardino, McCann, Onorati, Salem and Sheffield-prior to Sunday's game.
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