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Wappingers Falls, NY - Senior
Brendan Bisset's (New City, NY / Don Bosco Prep (NJ)) two-out single to right center in the bottom of the 11th inning lifted Manhattan to a 4-3 win over Fairfield in the series finale between the teams at Dutchess Stadium.
With the victory, the Jaspers match last year's win total in taking the series and improving to 18-17 and 7-2 in the MAAC while the two-time defending Regular Season champion Stags fall to 13-18 and 6-6 in the league.
Bisset's game-winning hit capped a big day that saw the senior outfielder go 3-for-6 with two hits.
Sophomore RHP
T.J. Stuart (Milford, CT / Joseph A. Foran) earned the win, striking out five while yielding two runs on three hits over a career-high 6.0 innings of action.
After threatening in its first two trips to the plate, Fairfield opened the scoring with a single run in the third inning. Kevin Radziewicz was plunked leading off the frame before moving to second on a ground out and would come around to score on a Dylan Reynolds RBI single to right center.
Manhattan quickly tied up the game at 1-1 in the bottom part of the frame. Senior
Michael Pfenninger (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) reached via a one-out single before moving to second on a successful hit-and-run by Bisset. A walk to
Matt Forlow (GS, Cold Spring, NY / Haldane) loaded up the bases and
Fabian Pena (Jr., Miami, FL / Calusa Prep) followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Pfenninger
The Jaspers took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth, using some timely hitting while taking advantage of a big Stag error. Senior
Brandon Valls (Miami, FL / Dean CC) led off with a bunt single down the third base line before scoring when Pfenninger reached on a throwing error on a successful sacrifice bunt. Bisset followed with a run-scoring single against a drawn-in infield to extend the advantage out to 3-1.
Fairfield would tie the game up in the top of the ninth with a one-out rally. Eric Cerno got things started with a walk before moving to third on a Mitch Williams single to right field. Tom Ryan followed with a bloop single to score Cerno while pushing pinch-runner Tyler Gambardella to third. Drew Arciuolo then plated Gambardella with a sacrifice fly to center to tie it up at 3-3.
Manhattan would threaten in the bottom of the 10th only to be denied when Valls was stranded at third.
The Stags then put the leadoff runner on first in the 11th but were unable to further advance the runner. Stuart struck out the next batter before inducing an inning-ending grounder and exited the jam by fanning Arciuolo, the reigning MAAC Player of the Week while setting the stage for Bisset's heroics.
Pfenninger went 2-for-3 with two runs while Padre and Valls each had two hits to round out the Jaspers with multiple-hits.
Sophomore RHP
Alexis Calderon (Bethlehem, PA / Liberty) was solid out of the pen, registering 3.0 solid innings of two-hit relief.
Williams had two of Fairfield's eight hits to pace the offense. RHP David Sacco took the loss, surrendering an unearned run on four hits with two strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
Manhattan will play at LIU Brooklyn on Tuesday, April 17 with first pitch tabbed for 3:00 pm.
