Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan baseball team could not hold on to an early two run lead as the Jaspers fell 7-4 at Fairleigh Dickinson (8-11-1) on Tuesday. Junior catcher Ramon Ortega knocked in three runs and junior centerfielder Anthony Vega drove in Manhattan's (4-17) fourth run in a 3-for-5 effort at the plate.
Knights' junior reliever Eric Anderson pitched three scoreless innings out of the bullpen to earn his second win of the season. Anderson also led the Fairleigh Dickinson offense with two RBI.
Manhattan scored two runs before the Knights could record an out. Junior designated hitter Nick Camastro drew the lead off walk in the first inning and Vega followed with a double down the left field line that set the stage for Ortega's two-RBI single. Vega accounted for three of the Manhattan's seven hits.
The Knights answered by piling on the next seven runs of the ballgame as Manhattan went scoreless for seven innings. Fairleigh Dickinson got on the scoreboard in the second inning on freshman outfielder Riley Moonan's RBI double. The Knights scored a pair of runs on two sacrifice flies in the fourth inning and escaped with two more runs in the fifth inning to take a 5-2 advantage.
Fairleigh Dickinson received two RBI singles in the sixth inning from Anderson and junior second baseman Kyle Weeks to expand its lead to five runs. Weeks scored twice in the ballgame.
The Jaspers capitalized on a pitching change in the ninth inning, but were one swing away from tying the game. Manhattan worked two runs off freshman reliever Eric Snyder on Vega's RBI single and Ortega's sacrifice fly. It forced the Knights to make another call to the bullpen for senior Mike Eliasen who ended up getting the last two outs to earn the save.
The Jaspers last shot to keep the ninth inning rally alive fell just short. Trailing by three runs with two outs and runners on first and second base junior first baseman Kyle Murphy launched a fly ball that settled in centerfield for the final out.
Third baseman Matt Holsman led Fairleigh Dickinson hitting 3-for-5 and with two runs scored batting out of the lead off spot. Manhattan freshman starter Joe Mortillaro was credited with the loss after going three innings with two strikeouts.
Manhattan is back in action on Wednesday when the Jaspers host New York Institute of Technology at Van Cortlandt Park. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.
