Box Score Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF)
Hamden, CT - Brian Moskey's bases-clearing triple in the fourth inning broke open a close game as Quinnipiac defeated Manhattan 10-4 in the series finale between the teams at the QU Baseball Field.
The Bobcats improve to 16-22 and 6-6 in the MAAC while the Jaspers fall to 12-24 and 4-8 in the league.
Quinnipiac struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second in taking an early 2-0 lead.
After threatening in the top of the second, Manhattan got one back in the top of the third. Senior Christian Santisteban (Miami, FL / Gulliver Prep) plated freshman Richie Barrella (Larchmont, NY / Canterbury Prep) with a RBI ground out.
In the bottom part of the frame, the Bobcats added to the lead with a pair of runs in opening up a 4-1 advantage.
The Jaspers immediately responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. With one out, junior Jason Patnick (Hopewell, NJ / IMG Academy (FL)) laced a double before sophomore Ryan Gronlier (Doral, FL / Doral Academy) and senior Chris Reynolds (Wall, NJ / St. Rose) drew two-out walks to load up the bases. Patnick then scored on a wild pitch before junior Jose Carrera (Miami, FL / St. Brendan) plated Gronlier with an infield single to trim the deficit to 4-3.
Quinnipiac then broke the game open with four unearned runs on Moskey's aforementioned three-run triple and would come around around to score on Matthew Batten's RBI single.
The Bobcats extended their advantage to 9-3 in the bottom of the seventh before freshman Fabian Pena (Miami, FL / Calusa Prep) blasted his team-leading sixth home run to lead off the eighth.
Unfortunately, that would be it for the Manhattan offense as Quinnipiac got that run back in the bottom part of the frame en route to registering a 10-4 win.
Junior RHP Joey Rocchietti (Green Brook, NJ Watchung Hills) was the tough-luck losing pitcher, allowing nine runs, three earned, with four strikeouts over 7.0 innings.
Offensively, junior Jose Carrera (Miami, FL / St. Brendan) went 2-for-5 with a RBI and a stolen base while reaching base for the 18th-straight game to pace a seven-hit Jasper attack.
Alex Vargas (1-0) earned the win, yielding just three unearned runs over 5.0 innings while Robert Hitt notched a four-inning save with four strikeouts.
Moskey finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs while Batten had three hits to lead the Bobcats.
Manhattan hosts Fordham on Tuesday, April 26 with first pitch at Dutchess Stadium slated for 6:30 pm.
