Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Jaspers' senior starting pitcher Taylor Sewitt went nine strong innings and struck out seven batters, but Manhattan (20-21) fell 2-1 in extra innings at TCU (24-15) on Friday. Horned Frogs' senior left fielder Jason Coats knocked in the game winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning with a RBI single through the left side to hand the Jaspers a heartbreaking setback.
Sewitt yielded only three hits to TCU who entered the contest ranked just outside of the Top-25. The Horned Frogs only run off Sewitt came in the fourth inning when freshman Kevin Cron had the sacrifice fly ball that broke the scoreless tie.
Manhattan did not trail the Horned Frogs for long as in the top of the fifth inning sophomore right fielder Andrew Gorecki scored the game tying run to lock the ballgame at 1-1. Gorecki singled to lead off the fifth inning and junior left fielder Joe Rock drove him in with a two-out RBI single.
The Jaspers missed on a couple opportunities to take the lead. In the sixth inning, Manhattan could not generate the go-ahead run after junior center fielder Anthony Vega's lead off triple, his third of the season. Then in the eighth inning Manhattan stranded two runners on base after sophomore shortstop Yoandry Galan singled with one out.
TCU relief pitcher Kevin Allen locked in for the last 2 2/3 innings to keep the Jaspers off the board. Allen earned the win and improved to 3-2 on the year after striking out three batters and allowing only one hit. He took over for Horned Frogs' starting pitcher Preston Morrison who lasted 7 1/3 innings and recorded four strikeouts.
Sewitt turned the ball to sophomore reliever Jacob Marchus in the bottom 10th inning who ran into trouble by putting the first two batters on with a walk and throwing error. Jaspers' freshman left hander Nick Girardi tried to settle the situation. But after TCU junior center fielder Kyle Von Tungeln advanced the runners one base with a sacrifice then Coats delivered the game winning hit.
Manhattan and TCU will continue its three-game series on Saturday when the squads return to Lupton Stadium for a 5 p.m. eastern contest.
