Box Score (PDF)
Spartanburg, SC - Manhattan dropped an 8-2 decision to Preseason Southern Conference favorite Wofford in the first of three games this weekend.
The Jaspers struck first with a run in the third inning as junior
Jake Knop (Portland, ME / Portland) reached on a one-out error, before moving to third on a double off the bat of sophomore
Jonathan Barditch (Miami, FL / Belen Jesuit Prep). Junior
Will Trochiano (Morganville, NJ / Marlboro) then opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly to plate Knop.
The Terriers immediately got that run back in the bottom part of the frame, but the damage could have been worse. With the bases loaded and no outs, senior RHP
Nick Massa (Shrewsbury, NJ / Red Bank Regional) induced a double-play grounder, before getting the next batter to limit the damage to one run.
Manhattan would answer with a run in its next trip to the plate. Junior
Matt Padre (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) reached via a one-out single, before advancing to third on a pair of wild pitches, and would cross the plate on
Alex Cerda's (Sr., Miami, FL / Florida Christian Prep) RBI ground out.
In the sixth, the Jaspers put runners on second-and-third with one out, but were unable to further dent the scoreboard.
Wofford then took its first lead of the game at 3-2 with with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom part of the frame.
Manhattan would have a chance to answer in the eighth, placing runners on second-and-third with one out, but was again unable to capitalize.
The Terriers would stretch the lead out to 8-2 with five runs in their final trip to the plate.
Barditch and Padre each had two hits to pace the Jasper offense, while sophomore
Sam Franco (Bardonia, NY / Clarkstown South) reached base safely three times.
Massa was the tough-luck losing pitcher, yielding three runs, one earned, on seven hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
Lawson Hill was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI, while Mike Brown and Hudson Byorick each had two hits to pace a 10-hit Wofford attack. Dalton Rhadans earned the win, striking out two over 2.1 innings of one-hit ball.
Wofford is now a perfect 5-0, while Manhattan falls to 1-3.
The Jaspers will play at USC Upstate on Saturday, February 22 at 4:00 pm.
