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WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. - Manhattan scored nine runs in the bottom of the seventh en route to posting a thrilling 14-13 win over Fordham in non-conference action at Dutchess Stadium.
Trailing 13-5 after allowing the Rams to score seven runs in the top of the seventh, the Jaspers plated nine runs on four hits, five walks and one big error in reclaiming the lead for good.
Sophomore Evan Brown (Asburnham, Mass. / Bridgton Academy (Maine)) got the rally started with a one-out walk before senior Mikey Miranda (Miami, Fla. / Florida Christian) singled and freshman Michael Pfenninger (Flemington, N.J. / Hunterdon Central) walked to load the bases. Freshman Brendan Bisset (New City, N.Y. / Don Bosco Prep (N.J.)) and sophomore Matt Forlow (Cold Spring, N.Y. / Haldane) followed with walks in trimming the deficit to 13-7 while forcing the visitors to the bullpen.
Senior Chris Kalousdian (Fort Salonga, N.Y. / Kings Park) greeted reliever Shane McDonad with a RBI single before junior Christian Santisteban (Miami, Fla. / Gulliver Prep) drew the third bases-loaded free pass of the frame. Senior Joe McClennan (Highland Mills, N.Y. / Cornwall Central) then delivered a two-run single in making it 13-11. Sophomore Jason Patnick (Hopewell, N.J. / IMG Academy) kept the onslaught going with a RBI double before Brown tied the game up with a RBI ground out. Patnick scored one batter later when Miranda reached on an error while capping the nine-run rally and making it a 14-13 game.
Pitching with the lead, senior LHP Mike Martin (Massapequa, N.Y. / Chaminade) hurled a scoreless eighth and gave way to sophomore RHP Matt Simonetti (Manalapan, N.J. / Manalapan) in the ninth. Simonetti allowed a pair of runners to reach safely before closing the door for his third save of the season.
Manahttan improves to 14-27 with the win while Fordham falls to 18-25.
The Rams opened the scoring with a first-inning run. Ian Edmiston led off with a double before taking third with one out on a wild pitch. Matthew Kozuch followed with a run-scoring ground while plating Edmiston.
Fordham added to the lead with two runs in their next trip to the plate thanks to Tim O'Connor's RBI ground out and an Edmiston double down the left field line.
The Jaspers responded in the bottom part of the second with a single run in trimming the deficit to 3-1. McClennan led off with a four-pitch walk before coming around to score on Brown's RBI double to deep right center.
After the Rams got that run back, Manhattan answered with two runs thanks to a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth while closing the deficit to 4-3. Patnick worked a one-out walk before moving to second on a ground out. Miranda then picked up Patnick with a two-out, run-scoring single to center. Following a Pfenninger single, Miranda would come into score on a Bisset RBI single.
The Jaspers would complete its comeback in the top of the fifth plating two runs in taking a 5-4 lead. McClennan plated Kalousdian to tie the game up at 4-4 before Pfenninger legged out an infield single to score Santisteban.
After battling to get the lead, Manhattan gave it right back in the top of the sixth as Fordham tied the game up when Ryan McNally scored on a wild pitch before DiVito delivered a two-out run-scoring single in reclaiming the lead for the visitors at 6-5.
The Rams added to the lead with seven more runs in the seventh while building what appeared to be an insurmountable 13-5 advantage before the aforementioned Jasper rally.
Kalousdian and Miranda each went 3-for-5 with two runs and a RBi to pace a 13-hit Jasper attack that saw all nine starters reach base safely.
Martin improved to 2-0 with 1.2 innings of relief.
Donadio (4-for-5, 2 R) and Divito (3-for-5, 4 RBI) led the way for Fordham, which notched 15 hits.
Manhattan will look to make it four in a row tomorrow at Wagner with first pitch slated for 7 p.m.
