Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Joey Rocchietti allowed just two runs on three hits in eight strong innings as the Jaspers captured the opening game of its series with Saint Peter's 5-3 at Van Cortlandt Park on Thursday afternoon.
In game two, Joe Jacques was equally impressive, tossing a three-hit, complete-game shutout in a 2-0 Manhattan victory. The sweep improves Manhattan's MAAC record to 10-13 and temporarily places the Jaspers in sixth place in the MAAC standings with one game to play in advance of next week's six-team MAAC Tournament.
Game 1 Recap | Box Score
Just as the game started, a light, steady rain began to fall that eventually turned to heavy rain for five minutes. The teams slogged through a scoreless first inning before the Jaspers fought throguh the conditions to plate four runs in the bottom of the second.
Jason Patnick began the deluge with a run-scoring triple to the wall in left center field, scoring Brendan Slattery, who had drawn a one-out walk. Joe McClennan then laid down a squeeze bunt to plate Patnick and ended up reaching on a throwing error.
The Jaspers continued to execute flawlessly as Mikey Miranda grounded the first pitch he saw into the vacated hole on the right side to put runners at the corners for Yoandry Galan. Galan drove a sacrifice fly to left field to score Patnick and Miranda tagged at first base to get into scoring position. That proved to be a key play as Evan Brown roped a single to center field to bring home the fourth run of the inning and give the Jaspers a 4-0 advantage.
Saint Peter's got a run back in the third on a run-scoring single by Zach Rawson. The Peacocks tried to get a second run across on a misplay in the outfield but Patnick's relay to Galan was on the mark and Galan fired home to cut down the runner and end the inning.
Joey Rocchietti cruised from that point and allowed just one hit until the eighth inning. Rob Moore singled home Kyle Grimes to make it a 5-2 game but Rocchietti got the final out of the inning. The Peacocks got a run in the ninth to cut the deficit to 5-3 but Sean Abbate was able to shut the door for his second save of the season.
Patnick was 2-for-4 in the game and Carrera was 2-for-3. Yoandry Galan had two runs batted in, including a squeeze bunt that brought home Joe McClennan in the fourth inning.
Rocchietti allowed two runs on three hits in eight innings to pick up his second win of the season.
Game 2 Recap | Box Score
Played in a lightning-fast one hour and 26 minutes, starting pitchers Joe Jacques and Mark Wilson were on point in the second game.
Manhattan struck in the first inning against Wilson without the benefit of a base hit. Chris Kalousdian drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch, stole second base and moved up to third on a balk. Jose Carrera then hit a sinking line drive that held up for center fielder Nick Cardamone but Kalousdian was able to easily score on the sacrifice fly, putting the Jaspers ahead 1-0.
That was all Jacques needed as he kept the Peacocks' lineup off balance with a mix of speeds and locations. Jacques struck out five, did not walk a batter and allowed just three singles. Only one of the base hits reached the outfield.
The Jaspers added an insurance run in the sixth inning. With two outs, Jose Carrera tripled to the right-center field gap. With two strikes on the next batter, Christian Santisteban, Carrera darted home on a pitch in the dirt and slid into home just ahead of the catcher's lunge to score the second run of the game.
Jacques retired the last eight batters he faced, capping his first career complete-game shutout by striking out Kyle Grimes to end it and complete the doubleheader sweep.
"I'm really proud of the team as a whole," head coach Jim Duffy said after the doubleheader. "We're controlling what we can control. We're still battling."
Now with a 10-13 record in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the Jaspers will play their final regular season game against Saint Peter's tomorrow, Friday, May 16 at noon.
NOTES:
Jose Carrera stole a base in game one and has 22 steals this season ... Chris Kalousdian stole two bases in game two and now has 21 on the season ... they are the first pair of Manhattan teammates to have 20 or more stolen bases in a season ... the Jaspers turned a 5-4-3 double play in each end of the doubleheader ... the sun peeked out through the clouds for much of the second game after rain fell throughout the first half of the first game.
