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Box Score Game One
Box Score Game Two
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Rain forced the suspension of game two of Manhattan's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) series with Fairfield on Saturday, which was eventually made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday at Van Cortlandt Park. The Jaspers (22-27, 9-12 MAAC) dropped that game 3-1 in seven innings before falling 7-4 in the series finale. Both losses eliminates Manhattan from postseason contention, marking the first time since 2002 the Jaspers will not make the conference tournament.
Jacob Marchus, who recorded one out before weather delayed the contest, resumed his outing by setting down the first seven Stags in order before giving up a one out single in the third. He was able to work around it and retire the next two in order but found trouble in the fourth. Fairfield's starter Mike Wallace was just as impressive, only facing one batter above the minimum through the first three innings.
A leadoff walk to Rob LoPinto started the issues when a single by Ryan Plourde put runners at the corners with nobody out. Marchus would induce a double-play ball that scored a run, and then got Jake Salpietro to ground out to end the inning.
His offense would respond in the home half of the inning as both Andrew Gorecki and Ramon Ortega singled to begin the frame. Christian Santisteban looked to drop a bunt down and reached safely on a fielders choice as Gorecki beat the throw to third, loading the bases. When Kyle Murphy hit a sharp grounder to third, Salpietro threw home to retire the lead runner but keep the bases juiced. Ortega would score as Brendan Slattery grounded out to first, tying the game at 1-1 after four innings.
Both pitchers settled down and made it through the fifth with relative ease. In the top of the sixth, Marchus set down the first two batters before the Stags (17-28, 9-12 MAAC) mounted a strong rally. They would record four consecutive hits as Salpietro and Jack Giannini each drove in runs for a 3-1 advantage.
Manhattan would call upon Matt Jordan to finish the inning, striking out pinch hitter Billy Zolga. In the bottom of the inning, Gorecki reached on a fielding error by LoPinto before advancing to second on another error by Salpietro as Ortega reached safely on a fielder's choice.
Fairfield catcher Michael Bennett would throw to second base, trying to pick off Gorecki, and put him a rundown. He was eventually tagged out at third while Ortega advanced to second putting a runner in scoring position with one out. The Jaspers could not capitalize as Wallace set down the next two batters he faced.
They again would attempt a rally in the bottom of the seventh, putting runners at the corners with two outs. Nick Camastro hit a soft pop-up to center that was tracked down by shortstop Sal Ciccone to end the game.
Marchus (4-3) took the loss allowing three runs on seven hits over his five and two-thirds while recording three strikeouts. Wallace (6-3) got the win for Fairfield going the complete seven innings allowing just one run on only three hits with just one walk.
In the nightcap it was Fairfield who got off to a hot start, plating a run in the third on a two out double from Jack Giannini before Bennett singled him home. They would add two more of Manhattan starter Michael Martin in the fourth, finding three more hits with two down, including an RBI double from Plourde followed by Hajjar's run-scoring single for a 3-0 advantage.
After allowing two more runs to come home in the top half of the fourth, the Jaspers trailed 5-0 and looked to start a comeback. Murphy began the home half of the inning with a solo shot to left off starter Aaron Howell, breaking the shutout. Yoandry Galan then drove in a run on a groundout in the fifth, cutting the deficit to 5-2.
Meanwhile, Martin worked in and out of the trouble in the fifth, retiring the first two batters in order before allowing back-to-back singles. With runners on the corners, the Stags attempted a delayed double steal, but Bennett got caught in a rundown between third and home and was ultimately tagged out for the final out of the inning.
After putting runners on the corners with one out in the sixth, Martin was pulled in favor of Sean Abbate who struck out two of the next three batters he faced, without giving up a run. The sophomore went on to pitch two and two-thirds of shutout relief allowing just one hit and one walk, striking out six different batters.
Manhattan also cut the lead down to just one, scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh. Santisteban began the rally with a leadoff double, scoring when Slattery's fly ball to center was dropped by Alex Witkus. After a wild pitch advanced Slattery to third with nobody out, Joe McClennan fouled out to the first baseman. Senior Matt Troisi would score Slattery on a sacrifice fly, making it a 5-4 ballgame with two outs.
Howell then hit each of the next two batters before pulled in favor of Christian Fox. He would strike out Camastro to end the inning and keep the Jaspers at bay.
His offense also added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth off Jordan who pitched in both games. Anthony Hajjar would score off a wild pitch before another run came home on a throwing error by Galan, making it a three run deficit heading into the ninth.
The Jaspers would yet again look to rally as pinch hitter Chris Reynolds singled to lead off the inning. That would be followed by two quick outs before Joe Rock doubled down the left field line, placing runners and second and third while bringing the tying run to the plate. Unfortunately, the magic wore out as Camastro grounded out to third, ending the game.
Howell (2-2) got the win for Fairfield in game two pitching six and two-thirds allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits while striking out one batter. Martin (1-6) was saddled with the loss giving up five runs, four earned, on 10 hits while walking two. Fox also picked up his first save of the year tossing two and one-third innings of scoreless baseball.
Manhattan will conclude its 2013 season this week as they travel to Loudonville, N.Y. to take on the Siena Saints in a three game series. The set begins on Thu., May 16 with a doubleheader at noon followed by one game on Fri. May 17., also scheduled for noon.
Prior to the game, Manhattan honored the seven active members of its graduating class as Camastro, Ortega, Murphy, John Soldinger, Rock, Troisi, and Jordan all performed in front of the home crowd for the final time in their careers. They also honored their student-managers Mike Vocatura and Doug O'Lear along with former Jasper Julian De La Rosa who graduated a year early and is currently working as a Graduate Assistant in the Manhattan College athletic department.
