Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Manhattan first year head coach Jim Duffy enjoyed his first collegiate victory in thrilling fashion on Saturday when the Jaspers picked up a 9-8 victory over Florida Atlantic (5-1) in game one of the doubleheader. Jaspers' freshman Aidan O'Leary notched the game tying triple in the top of the ninth and he later scored the winning run on sophomore Andrew Gorecki's sacrifice fly. The Owls used a seven run sixth inning in game two to run away with a 12-3 decision.
In game one, freshman designated hitter Vin Teixeira anchored the Jaspers superb offensive performance that featured 18 hits. Teixeira was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate and blasted his first collegiate home run, a two run shot that capped Manhattan's (1-2) four run first inning flurry. Junior catcher Ramon Ortega drove in the first run with a single, and then junior first baseman Kyle Murphy followed with a RBI double, before Teixeira's long ball that sailed over the right-center field wall.
Ortega, Murphy and Teixeira generated two more runs in the fifth inning to send the Jaspers on top 6-0. Ortega got it started again with a single to left center, which was part of his 4-for-5 effort at the plate. Murphy doubled for the second time in the contest to get Ortega across the plate. Then Teixeira knocked in junior outfielder Anthony Vega from second base with a RBI single to right field.
After allowing only two hits in the first four innings, Florida Atlantic caught up with Jaspers' sophomore starting pitcher Kevin Bonanni in the fifth inning. The Owls got on the scoreboard with a RBI single from Mike Albaladejo, and then Bonanni fell in a bases loaded jam walking in the second run. Jaspers' senior Dan Feinberg closed the door on the Owls and got the next four outs in relief of Bonanni. Florida Atlantic got within 6-3 on a sacrifice fly from Mark Nelson in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Junior shortstop Nick Camastro led off the eighth inning with a single and later tacked on Manhattan's seventh run courtesy of Murphy's sacrifice fly. Camastro was spectacular at the plate batting 5-for-6 in the lead off spot.
A five-run eighth inning from Florida Atlantic put the Jaspers backs against the wall as the Owls took an 8-7 lead. Jaspers' senior reliever Taylor Sewitt made his 2012 debut and got the final two outs of the frame.
Teixeira kicked off the Jaspers ninth inning rally with a lead off single. Soon after, O'Leary delivered the first hit of his collegiate career, which proved to be the biggest of the ballgame. The lefty from Portsmouth, N.H. drove the ball to right-center and used his blazing speed to turn it into a RBI triple. Gorecki got O'Leary home, pinch hitting for junior outfielder Joe Rock, as he delivered the sacrifice fly.
Sewitt struck out the first batter in the bottom of the ninth and forced a fly out and foul out to secure his first career victory.
In game two, Jaspers' sophomore starter Scott McClennan took a 3-3 tie into the sixth inning before Florida Atlantic generated seven runs to break the game open. Owls' junior centerfielder Nathan Pittman drove in three runs with a home run to anchor Florida Atlantic's offense. Vega and sophomore second baseman Yoandry Galan had three hits apiece to lead Manhattan.
Newton homered to get Florida Atlantic on the scoreboard first in the second inning, but Camastro answered back for the Jaspers with a RBI single in the top of the third to lock the contest at 1-1. Both squads posted two runs in the fifth inning with Manhattan striking first on Camastro's sacrifice fly and Teixeira's RBI double to take a 3-1 edge. Florida Atlantic got the two runs back in the bottom of the frame on Pittman's two run blast.
The flood gates opened for Florida Atlantic in the sixth inning to take a 10-3 advantage, and then the Owls tacked on two more insurance runs in the eighth with Alex Hudak's two run homer.
Manhattan and Florida Atlantic will play the fourth and final contest of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.