RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan Jaspers took a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning but could not hold on as they dropped the nightcap of a double header against West Virginia 7-6 on Saturday. The Mountaineers swept the double header and have won three of the first four games of the series.
West Virginia (10-10) jumped out 2-0 in the first when Ryan McBroom hit an RBI ground out followed by an RBI double from John Polonius. The Jaspers would respond immediately in the top of the second as Chris Kalousdian doubled to right center plating Joe McClennan before Nick Camastro laced a two RBI single into right field putting Manhattan ahead 3-2. They would another in the third on Yoandry Galan's sacrifice fly.
Starting pitcher Nick Girardi went three innings striking out five while giving up three runs on three hits. He also walked three including the leadoff man in the bottom of the third, Bobby Boyd, who was later doubled home by McBroom. Girardi would be relieved by Kevin Bonanni in the fourth who kept the Mountaineers without a run for four strong innings allowing a total of five base runners.
The Jaspers (1-14) tacked on another run thanks to an Anthony Vega RBI single in the top of the sixth and then add another in the top of the eighth when Kyle Murphy drove Vega in on a double giving Manhattan the 6-3 advantage.
West Virginia starter Caleb Ross lasted just one and two-thirds innings giving up three runs on three hits. He was replaced by Gabe Brown who scattered eight hits across five and a third allowing three runs.
Going into the bottom of the eighth, Bonnani hit the leadoff man in McBroom before Polonius singled and then plunked Matt Frazer to load the bases with no outs. Bonnani then hit Chris Rasky to drive in a run forcing a pitching change. Michael Scarinci made his way onto the mound and gave up an RBI single to Nate Antone cutting the Jasper lead to one.
Scarinci would then get Max Nogay to ground to third base where McClennan started a 5-2-3 double play. With runners on second and third and two outs, Manhattan looked to get out of the inning with the one run lead. A walk to Brady Wilson loaded the bases before Boyd hit a ground ball to second. Kalousdian picked up the grounder but the throw to first got by Kyle Murphy allowing two unearned runs to score and the Mountaineers to take a 7-6 lead.
Ryan Tezak would take the bump for West Virginia in the top of the ninth and give up just one hit to earn his second save of the day, and fourth of the year. Scarinci (0-2) was saddled with the loss pitching just two thirds of an inning and gave up unearned run while Austin Pressly, who retired three in a row in the eighth, got the win.
Manhattan and the Mountaineers wrap up their four game series tomorrow at 12 p.m. in Morgantown, W.Va.
To follow Manhattan Athletics on Twitter, go to twitter.com/GoJaspers or visit Manhattan's Facebook fan page.