Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan baseball team dropped a 3-1 decision at Big East member West Virginia (8-10) on Friday afternoon in Morgantown, W. Va. Jaspers' ace John Soldinger went the distance pitching eight innings with four strikeouts, but Manhattan (1-12) could not get generate its only run off the Mountaineers until the ninth inning in the setback. Sophomore right-hander Corey Walter earned the victory for West Virginia pitching 8 1/3 innings with two strikeouts to take the first contest of a four game weekend set at Hawley Field.
West Virginia worked two runs on the scoreboard in the first two innings. Junior second baseman Brady Wilson had three of the Mountaineers' six hits, including a lead off triple in the first inning that led to the first run of the ballgame. Then in the second inning, junior shortstop John Polonius led off the frame with a solo homer to give West Virginia a 2-0 advantage.
Four of Manhattan's seven hits were scattered throughout the first eight innings as the Jaspers could not put together a multi-hit inning until the ninth. Walter and sophomore reliever Ryan Tezak didn't provide any additional help as the West Virginia pitching staff did not allow a walk in the contest. Tezak recorded the final two outs to secure his second save of the season.
West Virginia got their third run in the eighth inning when freshman outfielder Bobby Boyd scored on a wild pitch after leading off the inning with a single. The Jaspers lone run came from junior centerfielder Anthony Vega who notched his second hit of the game in the ninth inning and then he scored the unearned run on a passed ball. Jaspers' sophomore right fielder Andrew Gorecki also posted two hits in the contest.
The Jaspers and Mountaineers return to Hawley Field on Saturday for a doubleheader that begins at 1 p.m.
