Loudonville, NY - Fueled by a pair of three-run frames, Manhattan took the series finale at Siena by a 8-3 count while securing its second MAAC series victory of the season.
The Jaspers improve 16-13 and 5-1 in the MAAC while the Saints fall to 5-22 and 5-4 in the league.
Sophomore RHP T.J. Stuart (Milford, CT / Joseph A. Foran) earned the win in his first collegiate start, striking out one while yielding one run on two hits over a career-high 5.0 innings in improving to 3-0 on the year
Manhattan struck first with three runs in the top of the second inning. Junior Richie Barrella (Larchmont, NY / Canterbury Prep) and freshman Matt Padre (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) led off with singles. After a fielder's choice grounder got Barrella at the plate, senior Brandon Valls (Miami, FL / Dean CC) singled to left field to plate Padre and open the scoring. Following a strike out, senior Michael Pfenninger (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) was plunked to load up the bases with two outs. Classmate Brendan Bisset (New City, NY / Don Bosco Prep (NJ)) delivered a two-run single to score senior Adam Genners (Jacksonville, FL / Stanton College Prep) and Valls to cap the scoring.
Siena got on the board in the bottom of the third inning with a single run. Zach Durfee led off with an infield single before Yasser Santana drew a walk. Later in the frame Phil Madonna would plate Durfee with a sacrifice fly but the damage could have been worse as Stuart induced Joe Drpich into an inning-ending line-out.
The Jaspers immediately responded with three runs in the top of the fourth. Genners led off with an infield single before Valls drew a four-pitch walk. The pair would advance to second-and-third before Pfenninger crushed a two-run double. Graduate student Matt Forlow (Cold Spring, NY / Haldane) delivered the final blow of the inning with a run-scoring single up the middle to plate Pfenninger while extending the Manhattan advantage out to 6-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Saints loaded the bases with no outs but was unable to push anything across as sophomore RHP Alexis Calderon (Bethlehem, PA / Liberty) struck out two batters before inducing a ground out to keep the lead at 6-1.
In the top of the seventh, Manhattan added two runs in opening up an 8-1 advantage as Bisset scored on a fielder's choice grounder and Pena on a Padre sacrifice fly.
Siena would get those two runs back in the eighth inning before junior RHP Logan Muratalla (San Dimas, CA / Mt. San Antonio) got the final out of the frame via a strikeout.
Eight of the nine Jasper regulars hit safely with Pena going 3-for-4 with a double, run and a walk to highlight a 10-hit attack.
Durfee went 2-or-3 with a run and a RBI to pace a six-hit Saint effort.
Manhattan returns to action at Army West Point on Tuesday, April 10 with first pitch tabbed for 3:00 pm.