Box Score Game One
Box Score Game Two
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – It was clear going into the weekend that the Manhattan baseball team would have a tough task in sweeping their series with Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) rival Rider. What was unclear was just how much of a fight would be needed in their doubleheader on Sunday. Trailing early in both games, the Jaspers (15-17, 6-6 MAAC) were swept by finals of 6-5 and 6-3 at Van Cortlandt Park. It is the first series loss at home for Manhattan since they were swept by then conference foe Le Moyne on May 12 and 13, 2007 when current assistant coaches Rene Ruiz and Nick Derba were players for the Jaspers.
Game one got off to a rough start as the Broncs (20-13, 7-2 MAAC) put up two quick runs on a Jerry Mulderig two run homerun off Kevin Bonanni. However, the Jaspers pushed two across in the bottom of the inning to quickly tie things up. Ramon Ortega would drive in a run with a one out single before Joe McClennan hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded.
Rider jumped out in front again in the top of the second Mike Parsons hit a two out single with runners on second and third to break the tie. That would chase Bonanni from the game after going just one and two-thirds innings. Michael Scarinci came on in relief and gave up three consecutive base hits that brought in three more runs, giving the Broncs a 6-2 lead. Starting pitcher Mike Murphy set down Manhattan in order in the home half to keep the advantage.
In the bottom of the third, Manhattan began their attempt at a comeback. Kyle Murphy blasted a solo homerun to left field and was followed two batters later by Christian Santisteban's two run shot to pull the Jaspers within one at 6-5. However, Murphy would get the next two in order to retire the side. He would go on to retire the next six in a row tossing perfect fourth and fifth innings.
Manhattan would get two chances to tie the game, one in the sixth and another in the seventh. After Santisteban led off the sixth with a single off reliever Vincenzo Aiello, McClennan sacrificed him over to second before a Brendan Slattery ground out put the tying run 90 feet away. Joe Rock was hit by a pitch and promptly stole second to put two runners in scoring position with two outs but Yoandry Galan was called out on strikes to end the frame.
In the bottom of the seventh, Nick Camastro led off with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and reached third when Andrew Gorecki sacrificed him over with a bunt. Murphy then hit a hard ground ball to the shortstop side and Parsons came up throwing, getting Camastro at the plate before Ortega grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game.
Bonanni (1-1) took the loss giving up five runs on three hits in just one and two-thirds while Murphy (3-4) got the win for Rider allowing five runs on four hits in five innings. Aiello picked up his first save of the year tossing two shutout innings in relief.
The nightcap began in a similar fashion with Rider taking an early lead. After Manhattan starter Michael Martin worked around two walks to begin the first, he retired the first batter of the second before trouble found him. A walk to Ian Lindsay would put runners on first and second with one out. Brian Donnelly then singled down the right field line to drive in a run, giving the Broncs a 1-0 lead. Parsons then dropped down a safety squeeze bunt which Martin was late to field, allowing another run to score. Sean Abbate relieved Martin with runners on first and second and only one out. A wild pitch advanced both runners and an Eric Strano sac fly tacked on another run for the Broncs before Abbate got out of the inning inducing a groundout from Adam Wayman.
Rider starter Kurt Sowa did a solid job holding the Jasper hitters to just four hits through his five innings of work, keeping them off the board in through the first three innings. Manhattan broke through in the fourth, thanks in part to some defensive miscues. McClennan reached second when leftfielder Donnelly dropped a fly ball down the line. Gorecki followed with a walk before Galan flied out to center for the second out of the inning, allowing McClennan to reach third. Matt Troisi then singled to right to make it a 3-1 ballgame and keep the rally alive. Camastro then hit a sharp single to left which Donnelly bobbled, allowing Gorecki to score from second and putting runners on second and third. Sowa then settled in and got Chris Reynolds to ground out to end the inning.
Trailing 3-2 going into the fifth, closer Jacob Marchus looked to keep his squad in the game after entering the game in the third with one on and two outs. Despite a leadoff double from Mulderig, Marchus retired the next two batters in order including a ground out that put Mulderig on third. Justin Thomas would follow with a hard grounder up the middle that Camastro charged. The ball however rolled up the second baseman's arm and into center, allowing a run to come home. Thomas would be thrown out on the play trying to stretch the error into extra bases.
After Sowa set down the side in order in the fifth, Sean Kuberiet came on in relief for Rider and worked around a two out single by Troisi in the sixth. He would get some extra insurance in the top of the seventh when Wayman hit a leadoff homer off Marchus to make it a 5-2 game. Marchus would get the next two batters in order but then allowed back-to-back singles, ending his day. Matt Jordan became the fourth pitcher of the game for the Jaspers and allowed one run to score on a wild pitch before ending the inning with a James Locklear ground out.
Manhattan began a strong attempt at a comeback in the home half of the inning as Reynolds singled to lead things off before Murphy was hit by a pitch. Ortega then came up with a clutch single down the right field line scoring Reynolds and bringing the tying run to the plate with no outs. That forced the Broncs to go back to their bullpen as Chris Taylor entered in relief. He would induce a ground ball off the bat of Christian Santisteban where second baseman Greg Fazio threw home to get the lead runner Murphy at the plate. McClennan would be retired on a ground ball to second, but did advance the runners putting two in scoring position. However, Gorecki lined out right back to the mound ending the threat.
The Jaspers mustered one last try in the bottom of the ninth against closer Zach Mawson putting two on with one out. With the tying run on that plate, Mawson retired McClennan on called strikes before inducing a fly ball to center from the pinch-hitting Slattery to end the game.
Martin (0-4) was saddled with the loss giving up three runs on two hits, walking three, in one and one-third innings. Sowa (7-1) got the win allowing two unearned runs over five innings, giving up four hits and striking out five. Mawson (9) earned the save with a scoreless ninth.
Manhattan returns to Van Cortlandt Park on Tue., April 17 as they host the Hofstra Pride at 3:30 p.m.
