Manhattan Falls In Season Finale At Niagara

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Niagara University, NY - Behind a dominant pitching performance, Niagara defeated Manhattan 3-1 in the series finale between the teams at Bobo Field to clinch a MAAC Tournament berth.

The Jaspers end the season with a 25-28 record, including 13-11 in the MAAC, while the Purple Eagles are 24-25 and 13-11 in the league.

In the top of the first, senior Brendan Bisset (New City, NY / Don Bosco Prep (NJ)) worked a leadoff walk before Matt Forlow (GS, Cold Spring, NY / Haldane) crushed a shot to left field, only to be denied as Benny Serrano robbed a sure-fire extra-base hit with an outstanding catch.

After evading trouble, Niagara jumped in front with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Julian Gallup got aboard via a one-out single before quickly coming in to score on a Greg Cullen RBI double. Cullen would later cross the plate on Wyatt Olson's two-out RBI single.

The Purple Eagles would add to the lead one inning later when Cullen brought in Joseph Tevlin with a sacrifice fly.

Manhattan would threaten in the top of the fifth inning as sophomore Alex Cerda (Miami, FL / Florida Christian Prep) got aboard via a two-out single before Evan Brown (GS, Asburnham, MA / Bridgton Academy (ME)) reached via an error. Unfortunately, the runners would be stranded in scoring position as RHP Matthew Brash induced an inning-ending ground out.

Niagara appeared poised to add to the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning but Tevlin was robbed by a leaping Brandon Valls (Sr., Miami, FL / Dean CC) at the wall while keeping two runs off the board.

The Jaspers then threatened in the of top of the seventh as the Garden State connection of freshman Matt Padre (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) and senior Michael Pfenninger (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) each singled to lead off the frame. Unfortunately, the pair would be left stranded by Brash.

In the top of the ninth, Pfenninger reached on a dropped fly ball before quickly scoring on a two-out, run-scoring single off the bat of Valls. Unfortunately, that would be as close as Manhattan would get as Philippe Langlois snared a Cerda line drive before firing to second to the get the final out.

Brash earned the win, striking out eight, against two walks, over 8.2 innings while yielding an unearned run on four hits.

Sophomore RHP T.J. Stuart (Milford, CT / Joseph A. Foran) was electric out of the pen, striking out three while scattering four hits over 6.1 scoreless frames.

NOTES: 
* Manhattan improved its win total by seven from a year ago.
* The Jaspers finished tied for sixth in the MAAC after being tabbed to finish 10th in the annual preseason poll.
* Stuart concludes his second season on campus with a school-record 10 saves while limiting hitters to a MAAC-best .178 average and ranking second with a 2.57 ERA.
* Junior Richie Barrella (Larchmont, NY / Canterbury Prep) reached base safely for the 11th straight game and finishes up the year as the team leader in average (.309) and hits (59).
* During MAAC play, Padre paced Manhattan in hitting (.333), home runs (3) and RBI (15).
* Cullen, Gallup and Olson all had two hits to pace Niagara on the day.