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ARLINGTON, Va. - Bobby LeWarne struck out seven and allowed just one run on five hits over 7.0 innings to lead George Washington to a 3-1 win over Manhattan in the series opener for both teams at Tucker Field.
With the win, the Colonials improve to 6-2 while the Jaspers fall to 1-8.
Sophomore RHP Joey Rocchietti (Green Brook, N.J. / Watchung Hills) was the tough-luck losing pitcher, allowing three runs on eight hits with three strikeouts in a complete-game 8.0-inning effort.
Manhattan posted the first major scoring threat of the game in the second inning. Senior Mikey Miranda (Miami, Fla. / Florida Christian) led off with a single before moving to second on Jason Patnick's (Hopewell, N.J. / Hopewell Valley Central) one-out single. Sophomore Evan Brown (Ashburnham, Mass. / Cushing Academy) followed with a double. However, on the play Miranda was caught up in a rundown trying to score before being tagged out. LeWarne then stranded the two Jasper runners with an inning-ending ground out.
George Washington opened the scoring in the bottom part of the frame on Kevin Mahala's RBI ground out.
In the top of the third, Manhattan immediately got that run back. Freshman Adam Genners (Jacksonville, Fla. / Stanton College Prep) led off with a single before advancing to second on senior Chris Kalousdian's (Kings Park, N.Y. / Kings Park) sacrifice bunt. LeWarne then looked as though he would evade trouble again only to have junior Christan Santisteban (Miami, Fla. / Gulliver Prep) deliver a two-out, RBI single.
Unfortunately, from that point Colonial pitching retried the final 19 Jasper batters in order.
George Washington reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Mahala scored on Robbie Metz's infield single. Mahala when then score an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh to provide the final 3-1 score.
Mahala went 2-for-3 with two runs and a RBI while having a hand in all three Colonial scores. Metz also was 2-for-3 to round out the multi-hit performers in the game.
The teams will conclude their series tomorrow with a 12 p.m. doubleheader.
