Pfenninger's Heroics Lift Manhattan To Series Win Over Rider

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Wappingers Falls, NY - With runners on the corners and two outs, senior Michael Pfenninger (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) snared a hot shot up the middle before getting the final out at second in lifting Manhattan to a 3-2 win over Rider in the series finale between the teams at Dutchess Stadium.
 
The Jaspers improve to 20-19 and 9-3 in the MAAC thanks to winning their fourth-straight league series while the Broncs fall to 10-23 and 5-6 in the league.

After both teams squandered scoring opportunities in the first three innings, Manhattan finally broke through with a single run in the bottom of the fourth. Senior Brandon Valls (Miami, FL / Dean CC) was plunked with one out before coming around to score on a Pfennnger RBI double to right field.

Rider would then take its first lead of the game in the top of the sixth inning as Jake Bender tripled with two outs before Harrison McClure followed with a two-run homer to left field.

Vincent Vitacco was outstanding all game for Rider on the mound and exited after 7.1 solid innings and Manhattan immediately took advantage of his absence. Freshman Matt Padre (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) greeted reliever Jordan Silverman with a triple to right field before later coming around to score on an Alex Cerda (So., Miami, FL / Florida Christian Prep) RBI single to left field.

In the top of the ninth, the Broncs rallied with a pair of leadoff singles and had runners at the corners with one out when graduate student LHP Joe Jacques (Shrewsbury, NJ / Red Bank Regional) got Jake Bender for the second out before Pfenninger made his aforementioned web gem to put the game on ice.

Pfenninger finished 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI to pace an eight-hit Jasper attack. On the weekend, the Garden State native went 6-for-10 with four runs, three RBI and two doubles while reaching base at a .692 clip.

Sophomore RHP T.J. Stuart (Milford, CT / Joseph A. Foran) improved to 5-0 on the year, yielding two runs on six hits with six strikeouts over 5.0 innings of relief. Jacques notched his first save with a scoreless inning of work. Junior RHP Joe DiNizio (Middlesex, NJ / Middlesex) started and was impressive, striking out four over 3.0 innings of two-hit ball.

Vitacco led the way for Rider, striking out five while yielding two runs on six hits and two walks over 7.1 innings.

Manhattan will host Hofstra on Tuesday, April 24 with first pitch tabbed for 5:00 pm.