Box Score
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Playing in the final game of the 2013 season, the Manhattan baseball team used a solid all-around effort for a 6-5 win against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) rival Siena. The Jaspers (24-28, 11-13 MAAC) won their final series of the year after splitting yesterday's doubleheader.
Another quick start saw Manhattan put up a run in the first when Nick Camastro doubled to lead things off before advancing to third on a wild pitch. He would later score on a sacrifice fly by Christian Santisteban for the early lead. They would add another in the top of the second on an RBI single from Yoandry Galan with two outs, scoring Joe Rock.
That lead left enough cushion for starting pitcher Michael Martin who delivered a strong performance on the mound. Through the first five innings, the southpaw allowed just two runners to reach second base. In the second, the Saints' (25-28, 15-9 MAAC) Mike Allen reached on an error by the third baseman Kyle Murphy but was stranded there before Tyler Martis singled and stole second in the fifth. Martin recovered on both occasions, keeping Siena off the board through five frames.
His offense gave him a little more breathing room in the top of the fourth as well. Leading 2-0, Murphy led off the frame with a double before Andrew Gorecki tripled off Dan Dopico to plate Murphy. Gorecki would then be thrown out at home on a fielder's choice, leaving the Jaspers with a three run advantage.
Siena finally broke through against Martin in the home half of the sixth. With two outs, Brian Fay doubled down the right field line and subsequently scored on John Rooney's double to right center. After giving up a single to put runners on the corners, Martin induced a fly out off the bat of Kyle Baldani to end the inning.
With their lead trimmed to 3-1, the Jaspers added to it in the top of the seventh. Both Galan and Camastro started the inning with singles before Chris Reynolds drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Ramon Ortega grounded into a double play, putting runners at second and third with two outs. However, Santisteban would deliver a clutch two run single to right center making it a 5-1 ballgame.
To begin the bottom of the inning, Manhattan turned to their bullpen and Jared Hirschberg. He would retire two of the first three batters he faced, issuing a one out walk to Vincent Citro. Mike Fish then doubled to left, scoring Citro, before Larry Balkwill struck out swinging for the final out.
Once again, the Jaspers gained some insurance in the eighth on Galan's second RBI single. The junior plated Gorecki with a two out base knock as part of his 3-for-3 day at the plate, giving his team a 6-2. Siena would not go quietly though, scoring two runs in the bottom part of the frame.
Hirschberg began things by striking out Fay but walked the next two batters and delivered a wild pitch to put two men in scoring position. Baldani then singled to left, scoring Rooney, ahead of Martis' single that also scored a run. With the lead cut to 6-4, and the tying runs on base, Hirschberg got Citro to ground into an inning ending double play to preserve the advantage.
Things would get interesting in the bottom of the ninth as Chris Liquori started the inning in relief for Manhattan. After getting the first batter to ground out, he issued a walk and a hit by pitch to put runners on first and second. That prompted a pitching change for the Jaspers as Sean Abbate would be called upon to try and close the door.
A single from Fay brought home one run, making it a 6-5 contest with the winning run at first. Abbate then got Rooney to fly out to shallow center before inducing a ground out from Allen that ended the game.
Martin (2-6) got the victory for the Jaspers throwing six innings of one-run ball scattering eight hits. Jake Werdesheim (0-2) took for the loss for Siena, which used a different pitcher in each inning preparing for the MAAC Tournament where they will be the #4 seed. Abbate picked up his second save of the year, recording the final two outs allowing only the inherited runner to score.
The game marked the end of the careers of seven Manhattan seniors who recorded 122 career victories over their time in Riverdale. Camastro, Ortega, Murphy, Rock, Matt Troisi, Matt Jordan, and John Soldinger will all graduate this coming weekend after having led the team to consecutive MAAC titles in both 2011 and 2012. Camastro finished his career with 222 total hits, fifth in program history, while Ortega ends his with 213 good for 10th all-time. Meanwhile, Soldinger will leave the Jaspers as the all-time leader in innings pitched (353) and is in the top-5 in four other categories.
