Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan baseball team scored 10 runs in the last two innings as the Jaspers ran off with a 13-4 decision at Rider (11-23, 6-6 MAAC) on Sunday. Jaspers' junior catcher Ramon Ortega finished with five RBI and scored two runs to help Manhattan avoid a MAAC sweep to the Broncs. Manhattan junior centerfielder Anthony Vega registered three hits and drove in three runs, while senior reliever Taylor Sewitt pitched two strong innings to pick up the win and improve to 5-1 on the season.
Junior second baseman Nick Camastro got Manhattan (15-19, 8-4 MAAC) going in the first inning by generating the first run of the ballgame. After being hit by a pitch, Camastro stole second base, advanced to third base on a balk and then scored with two outs to get the Jaspers on the scoreboard first. Camastro scored three runs and worked three walks in the contest.
Before the first inning was over, Rider starting pitcher Kurt Sowa walked Ortega and then hit sophomore right fielder Andrew Gorecki to set the stage for third baseman Joe McClennan's RBI single.
Jaspers' senior designated hitter Matt Troisi stepped up in the fourth inning when he led off the frame with a solo home run to right field that expanded Manhattan's lead to 3-0. Troisi and McClennan were responsible for two hits apiece in Manhattan's 14 hit effort.
The Broncs cut the Jaspers edge to two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with freshman second baseman Mike Parsons scoring after a lead off single down the left field line. Freshman catcher Eric Strano delivered the one out sacrifice fly to push Parsons across home plate making it a 3-1 contest.
Manhattan starting pitcher Scott McClennan ran into a jam on the hill in the sixth inning as the Broncs managed to tie the game at 3-3. Junior designated hitter Ian Lindsay got it all started with a one out single, and then junior third baseman Adam Wayman added a double down the left field line. Broncs' freshman shortstop Greg Fazio came up with the game tying hit when he knocked in Lindsay and Wayman with a single to right center field.
McClennan lasted 5 2/3 innings, recorded four strikeouts and he did not yield a walk before turning the ball over to the Jaspers' bullpen.
Rider took a one run lead in the seventh inning with sophomore outfielder Nick Crescenzo's RBI single down the right field line. But Manhattan answered right back in the top of the eighth inning by scoring four runs to open a 7-4 advantage. It was Manhattan juniors Vega and Kyle Murphy who delivered clutch two out hits.
Vega knocked in sophomore left fielder Chris Kalousdian who got the rally going with an infield single. Then after Camastro walked and the Jaspers advanced runners to second and third base on a wild pitch, Murphy came up with the go ahead two run single to right field that gave Manhattan a 6-4 edge. A fielding error by Broncs' right fielder Jerry Mulderig kept the eighth inning alive and allowed Murphy to score, which gave the Jaspers a three run cushion.
Sewitt made quick work of the Broncs in the eighth inning by retiring three of the four batters he faced. It included an inning ending strikeout of Rider first baseman Justin Thomas.
Vega gave the Manhattan pitching staff an extra two runs to work with in the top of the ninth inning when he laced a two RBI double to right field that allowed sophomore shortstop Yoandry Galan and Kalousdian to score. Galan and Kalousdian each singled earlier in the inning.
Ortega topped it all off with a grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning that gave Manhattan a 13-4 lead. It was Ortega's team leading fifth home run of the season and 32nd RBI of the year.
Sophomore right handed pitcher Jacob Marchus put the finishing touches on the victory as he recorded the final three outs of the contest. Mulderig received credit for the loss as he allowed two earned runs and did not record an out on the mound.
Manhattan returns to Van Cortlandt Park on Wednesday where the Jaspers hold a perfect 10-0 record this season. The Jaspers host Columbia for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
