Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - In a return to league play, the Manhattan baseball team split a series opening double header at Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe Fairfield on Saturday afternoon. The Jaspers took game one by a final of 7-5 but the Stags scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth in game two for a 6-3 come from behind victory at Alumni Diamond. The split pushed Manhattan to 22-24, 11-6 in MAAC play while Fairfield moved to 21-24 and 9-8 in the conference.
Game one began with a lead-off single in the top of the first from centerfielder Anthony Vega (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) who then stole second and scored when Nick Camastro (Lagrangeville, N.Y./Arlington) singled him home for the early lead. Fairfield struck back in the bottom of the inning for two runs off RBI singles from Ryan Plourde and Jack Giannini.
In the top of the third, Yoandry Galan (Miami, Fla./Florida Christian) led off with a double and advanced to third on Vega's second base hit of the game. Vega would steal second again before catcher Ramon Ortega (Miami, Fla./Christopher Columbus) laced a two run single to left centerfield off pitcher EJ Ashworth, pushing the Jaspers ahead by one yet again. The Stags would tie it up however in the fourth when Plourde drove in his second run of the game with a double.
Manhattan would break the tie in the top of the sixth with and RBI single from Andrew Gorecki (Smithtown, N.Y./St. Anthony's) who was pinch run for by Chris Kalousdian (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park). Kalousdian would advance to second on a sacrifice bunt from Joe McClennan (Highland Mills, N.Y./Cornwall) and later scored on Matt Troisi's (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) RBI double to give the Jaspers a 5-3 lead.
Pitcher John Soldinger (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) would shut things down in the home half of the sixth and gave up just one extra run in the seventh before exiting the game with a 5-4 lead. Manhattan scored two more runs in the top of the ninth while freshman Michael Scarinci (Nanuet, N.Y./Pearl River) threw two innings of one run ball in relief to earn his second save of the year. Soldinger (4-4) picked up the win giving up four runs, three earned, on nine hits in seven innings while striking out five and walking four. Ashworth took the loss giving up five runs on 10 hits in his five and one-third innings of work.
In Game two, Manhattan would again jump out to the early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Joe Rock (Carmel, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic) singled home Gorecki. The lead would be short lived as Fairfield knotted things up in the home half on Mark Skrapits' sacrifice fly. The Stags then took the lead in the third after Alex Witkus tripled to center and scored when Anthony Hajjar singled up the middle for the 2-1 advantage.
Senior Mike Giordano (Bedford, N.Y./Fox Lane) started and threw just three innings giving up two runs on six hits, striking out one batter giving way to Scott McClennan (Highland Mills, N.Y./Cornwall). The Jaspers got their starter off the hook with a two run fourth that was highlighted by Troisi's second home run of the year to tie things up. Anthony Vega then doubled to left center and scored when Camastro reached on a throwing error from second baseman Sal Ciccone to take a 3-2 lead.
Fairfield however broke through with a big inning in the bottom of the sixth. Plourde led off by flying out to left field before McClennan gave up three straight singles through the left side to load the bases. Sophomore closer Jacob Marchus (Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto) was called on to get out of the jam but instead gave up a two RBI single to pinch hitter Mike Bennett that gave the Stags the lead.
With runners on the corners and just one out, Mike Maschi pinch ran for Bennett and advanced to second on a throwing error by Ortega on a pickoff attempt. Nick Piccirillo would pinch hit for Ciccone and deliver a two run single that put Fairfield up 6-3. Marchus would then retire the next two batters to end the inning but Manhattan could not push anything across in the top of the seventh and dropped the nightcap.
McClennan (2-5) was charged with the loss giving up three runs on four hits while striking out and walking one batter in two and two-thirds innings of work. Mark Bordanaro got the win in relief for Fairfield pitching one and one-third innings of no-hit baseball.
The two teams will meet again tomorrow, Sunday May 6, in the rubber game at noon at Alumni Diamond.
