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Norfolk, VA - Junior RHP Joey Rocchietti (Green Brook, NJ / Watchung) struck out six over 5.1 innings while the offense blew open what was a close game with seven runs over the final three frames as Manhattan bested Delaware 10-2.
The Jaspers scored their 10 runs on just seven hits while also drawing 13 walks as all nine regulars reached base safely.
With the victory, Manhattan improves to 1-1 while the Blue Hens fall to 3-2.
Junior Jose Carrera (Miami, FL / St. Brendan) paced the offense, falling a home run short of the cycle while driving in two. Fellow Floridian freshman Fabian Pena (Miami, FL / Calusa Prep) added a pair of hits with a walk to round out the multi-hit performers for the Jaspers.
Delaware opened up the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second before Manhattan answered with a score in the third. Freshman Anthony Rocchietti (Green Brook, NJ / Watchung) reached on a passed ball before later coming around to score on a Brendan Bisset (New City, NY / Don Bosco Prep (NJ)) ground out.
In the top of the fifth, the Jaspers scored a pair of runs in jumping in front 3-2 thanks to drawing four walks.
Delaware would finally chase Joey Rocchietti in the top of the sixth and with runners on first-and-second with one out, appeared poised to tie the game up. However, junior RHP Shawn Kanwisher (Washington Township, NJ / St. Joseph's Regional) had other ideas and induced an inning-ending double-play grounder to keep the score at 3-2 after six complete.
Manhattan immediately added to the lead with three runs while batting around in the top of the seventh. Carrera led off with a triple before the Jaspers loaded the bases with one out. Sophomore Michael Pfenninger (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) plated Carrera with a run-scoring single before Pena followed with a RBI single. Sophomore Paul Genners (Jacksonville, FL / Stanton College Prep) capped the scoring with a run-scoring ground out.
The Jaspers against batted around in the ninth in plating four runs while providing the final 10-2 score.
Kanwisher was impressive out the bullpen, yielding one hit over 2.2 innings before senior RHP Michael Scarinci (Nanuet, NY / Pearl River) closed out the victory with a perfect ninth.
Brandon Walter struck out four while yielding three runs, two earned, over 4.2 innings in being saddled with the loss.
Jordan Glover paced the Blue Hens with two hits.
Manhattan returns to action on Sunday, February 28 against Virginia Tech with first pitch slated for 11:00 am.
