Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan baseball team never trailed in its doubleheader with Columbia (14-21) as the Jaspers ran off with a 9-2 victory in game one and a 6-3 win in game two on Wednesday in Riverdale. The Jaspers rallied behind dominant starts by pitchers Sean Abbate and Michael Martin as Manhattan (17-19) maintained its unblemished record at Van Cortlandt Park and extended the third longest home win streak in NCAA Division I to 13 games.
Junior catcher Brendan Slattery contributed two solid starts behind the plate and drove in four runs to pace the Manhattan offense. Jasper juniors Nick Camastro and Anthony Vega added two RBI and stole three bases apiece, while sophomore shortstop Yoandry Galan also knocked in two runs in the doubleheader.
Abbate rolled through six strong innings in game one to earn the first victory of his collegiate career. The Jaspers gave the freshman right hander from Levittown, N.Y. a six run cushion in the bottom of the first inning and Manhattan did not look back. Abbate yielded only two hits, he struck out four batters and allowed just one walk before he turned the ball over to senior reliever Dan Feinberg who closed out the final frame.
Manhattan hit through the order in the first inning to chase Lions' starter Joey Donino out of the ballgame after recording only two outs. Junior designated hitter Ramon Ortega knocked in the Jaspers first run, and then Matt Troisi added an RBI single to left field. Slattery's two RBI double to left field was the highlight to the inning.
With a 6-0 advantage after the first inning, Abbate retired the next 10 Columbia batters. The Jaspers added their seventh run in the fourth inning on freshman third baseman Joe McClennan's sacrifice fly. Then in the fifth inning, Manhattan expanded its lead to 9-0 with RBI singles from Galan and Vega.
Columbia broke up Abbate's shutout bid in the sixth inning with freshman outfielder Robb Paller's RBI double down the right field line. Feinberg went to work in the seventh inning and struck out the final two batters of the contest to seal the victory.
Sophomore right fielder Andrew Gorecki powered Manhattan with two doubles in game one. Jaspers' junior left fielder Joe Rock added a double in his 2-for-3 effort at the plate. Camastro also posted two hits in the game.
In game two, Martin limited Columbia to only three hits in a scoreless five innings of work. He posted four strikeouts to earn the win and help Manhattan improve to a perfect 12-0 at home this season. Martin made quick work of Columbia in the first two innings as he retired all six batters in order. He also navigated out of a bases loaded jam with two outs in the third inning to keep the Lions off the board.
Manhattan worked three runs off Lions' starter Joey Gandolfo in the third inning to get on the scoreboard first. Slattery capped the inning with a RBI single to left field that sent Vega across home plate and put the Jaspers on top 3-0.
The Jaspers manufactured runs in the next three innings to open its lead. Rock knocked in sophomore left fielder Chris Kalousdian in the fourth inning, Slattery had another RBI in the fifth inning and then Galan bunted home freshman Aidan O'Leary on a squeeze play in the sixth inning.
Columbia got two runs in the sixth inning before Jaspers' reliever Joe Mortillaro worked out of trouble stranding two runners on base. Freshman relief pitcher Nick Girardi stepped up in the seventh inning and battled to record the finals outs, despite yielding a solo home urn to Lions' senior Mark Heil.
Manhattan resumes Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play this weekend when the Jaspers travel to Canisius. The series is scheduled to begin on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.
