Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Jaspers' junior catcher Ramon Ortega smashed a three run homer in the eighth inning to help send the Manhattan baseball team off with an 8-5 victory at Fairfield (21-25, 9-9 MAAC) on Sunday. Ortega finished with four RBI in the contest and junior right fielder Joe Rock had three hits with a home run and two RBI to win the rubber match of the MAAC series at Alumni Diamond in Connecticut.
Reigning MAAC Co-Pitcher of the Week Taylor Sewitt earned the win to improve to 6-1 on the season. The senior right hander gave the Jaspers seven complete innings with six strikeouts in his third career start. Jaspers' freshman Michael Scarinci worked through the eighth inning before turning the ball over to sophomore Jacob Marchus who closed the contest for his fifth save of the season.
Manhattan (23-24, 12-6 MAAC) jumped out to a four run lead by the sixth inning and never trailed in the contest. Rock's RBI double in the second inning got the Jaspers on the board. Then in the third inning Ortega delivered a RBI sacrifice fly and junior second baseman Nick Camastro stole home later in the frame to give Manhattan a 3-0 advantage. Camastro walked three times in the ballgame and scored two runs.
The Jaspers chased Fairfield starting pitcher Brett Shulick out of the ballgame in the fourth inning after recording half of their 14 hits off the senior right hander. Shulick was credited with the loss falling to 5-4 on the year.
Sophomore left fielder Chris Kalousdian drove in Manhattan's fourth run in the sixth inning with a single to left field that came after Rock's second double of the game. The Jaspers missed an opportunity to open a larger lead as they left three runners on base in the sixth. In total, Manhattan left 12 runners on base in the contest.
Fairfield battled to get within 4-3 by the end of the seventh inning. Junior first baseman Anthony Hajjar launched a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the seventh inning, a one out single to left field by senior third baseman Mark Skrapits led to two more runs.
Ortega smashed his team leading sixth home run of the season in the eighth inning, which gave Manhattan some breathing room. The three run blast with two outs opened a 7-3 advantage. It also marked his team-high 42nd RBI of the year.
The Stags tacked on two runs in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch. Rock answered in the top of the ninth with a solo home run to give Manhattan an 8-5 edge. Marchus made quick work of the Stags in the bottom of the ninth without yielding a hit to wrap up the weekend series with Manhattan taking two of three games.
Five Jaspers in total had multi-hit efforts, including two hits apiece from junior center fielder Anthony Vega, senior designated hitter Matt Troisi, freshman third baseman Joe McClennan and sophomore shortstop Yoandry Galan.Vega registered a double and stole his 27th base of the season. Camastro had two steals on the afternoon.
Manhattan will return to Van Cortlandt Park for its final six games of the season beginning next weekend when the Jaspers host Saint Peter's. Saturday's doubleheader with the Peacocks is scheduled for 12 p.m. Manhattan is undefeated at home this season with a perfect 12-0 record in Riverdale.
