Box Score Game One
Box Score Game Two
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – In dire need of a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) win, the Manhattan baseball team got two, sweeping a doubleheader from rival Saint Peter's on Saturday. The Jaspers (19-22, 8-9 MAAC) earned 4-2 victories in both games over the Peacocks (13-23, 6-8 MAAC).
Game one began as a pitchers duel with neither starter allowing a runner to reach second in the first two innings. However, Manhattan would break through in the third loading the bases with nobody out. Ramon Ortega would ground into a double play that scored Joe Rock for the first run of the game, and only run of the frame.
Saint Peter's answered back in the bottom of the fourth when William Rawson reached on a throwing error from shortstop Yoandry Galan. He would come home on a double from Jon Kristoffersen, knotting the game at 1-1. That deadlock wouldn't last long as Manhattan again went to work in the fifth. Galan made up for his error with a leadoff single, advancing to second when Rock worked a walk. Nick Camastro then grounded into a double play, advancing the runner to third.
Andrew Gorecki and Ortega would each get consecutive two-out, run scoring hits, chasing Peacocks starter Eric Mozieka. John Soldinger used that margin to his advantage, working around a leadoff single in the fifth and a one-out walk in the sixth.
In the bottom of the seventh, Soldinger ran into some trouble. Issuing a one out walk to Matt Speckmann, and giving up a single to Matt Mancini, he needed his defense to help him out. On a double-steal attempt, Ortega threw out Mancini at second for the second out before Nicholas Henriquez singled home Speckmann. Although he hit the next batter, Soldinger induced a ground ball to second to end the inning, leading 4-2.
That score would hold as Kevin Bonanni tossed two shutout innings in relief allowing just two hits for his first save of the season. Soldinger (3-3) got the win going seven innings allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits. He also struck out seven and walked four. Mozieka (1-3) took the loss allowing three runs on three hits in four and two-thirds innings.
Manhattan would not need their bullpen in game two as Jacob Marchus went the full seven innings of the double header nightcap. The junior would be staked a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Kyle Murphy singled to lead things off, later scoring on Galan's RBI single.
Saint Peter's struck for two in the bottom of the second when Kristoffersen hit what was the third straight one out single, driving in two runs. Marchus would regroup and induce a pop-up from Speckmann and ground out from Mancini for the final two outs.
In the top of the third, the Japers would regain the lead jumping on starting pitcher Mathew Yuhas. After Gorecki and Ortega singled to begin the frame, Christian Santisteban ripped a double down the right field line to tie the game at 2-2 with nobody out. Murphy then hit a sacrifice fly to center, plating Ortega.
Marchus would then scatter four hits the rest of the way, retiring the side in order in the sixth. His offense would tack on another run in the seventh off relief pitcher John Leiter. Brendan Slattery would reach on a fielder's choice, scoring Santisteban for the two run advantage.
In total, Marchus (3-2) allowed just two runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out one in the victory. Yuhas (5-4) was saddled with the loss allowing three runs on nine hits in six innings.
The two teams conclude their MAAC series on Sun., April 28 with one game, set to begin at noon at Jaroschak Field.
