Manhattan Overcomes 5-0 Deficit, Tops Stony Brook

STONY BROOK, N.Y. – There was plenty of hype heading into the Manhattan College baseball team's matchup at Stony Brook on Wednesday afternoon.  Over the past few years, the Jaspers and Seawolves have been two of the top programs in the Northeast.  Both schools reached the NCAA Tournament last season, with Stony Brook advancing to the College World Series.  The contest lived up to its advance billing, as the Jaspers (14-15) came back from a 5-0 deficit to post a 9-5 victory over the Seawolves (10-22) at Joe Nathan Field.

Stony Brook scored all five of its runs in the bottom of the third.  The Seawolves had seven hits in the inning, including a two-run double by Tanner Nivins and RBI singles by Cole Peragine, Johnny Caputo and Brett Tenuto.  Manhattan began its comeback immediately, though, as Joe McClennan (Highland Mills, N.Y.) crushed a two-run homer to left field in the top of the fourth.

Manhattan then took the lead with a four-spot in the top of the fifth.  After Joe Rock (Carmel, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch leading off the inning, Stony Brook got two quick outs before Andrew Gorecki (Smithtown, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch.  Ramon Ortega (Miami, Fla.) followed with an RBI single, then Christian Santisteban (Miami, Fla.) connected for a three-run blast to right field that put the Jaspers in front 6-5.

A Yoandry Galan (Miami, Fla.) sacrifice fly in the eighth provided an insurance tally, and the Jaspers added two more runs in the ninth.  Ortega drew a one-out walk and Santisteban followed with a single before Brendan Slattery (Danbury, Conn.) delivered an RBI single.  Santisteban later scored when McClennan reached on an error, and John Soldinger (Bay Shore, N.Y.) set the Seawolves down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to finish off the 9-5 victory.

Santisteban finished a triple short of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs.  Ortega went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while McClennan was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored. 

Matt Jordan (Kingston, N.Y.) got the start on the mound and went three innings.  He allowed five runs on nine hits and struck out five.  Sean Abbate (Levittown, N.Y.) (2-1) earned the win after giving up a hit and a walk while also picking up a strikeout in two innings of relief.  Abbate was the first of six Manhattan relievers who combined for six shutout innings.  The Jasper bullpen surrendered just two hits and one walk while striking out four, and retired the last nine Seawolves in order.

The Seawolves outhit the Jaspers 11-10, but were held to just two singles after the third inning.  Peragine, Caputo and Michael Hubbard each had two hits for Stony Brook.  Starting pitcher Tim Knesnik tossed three no-hit innings.  He struck out two and walked one.  Bryan Tatelman allowed three runs on two hits and recorded a strikeout in 1.2 innings, while C.J. Schildt (0-1) took the loss after yielding three runs and two hits in 0.1 innings.  Nick Brass surrendered one run on three hits, walked two and struck out two in 2.1 innings, and Kenny Ball gave up two runs and three hits while striking out two and walking one over the final 1.2 innings.