Manhattan University Athletics

Box Score (PDF)

Spartanburg, SC - USC Upstate bested Manhattan by a 7-1 count, despite another strong start from senior RHP T.J. Stuart (Milford, CT / Joseph A. Foran).

After being tagged for a pair of earned runs in the first inning, Stuart buckled down and didn't allow another run over his six innings of work.

The Jaspers opened the scoring with a run in the first inning, as sophomore Sam Franco (Bardonia, NY / Clarkstown South) led off the game with a triple, before coming in to score on junior Will Trochiano's (Morganville, NJ / Marlboro) RBI single.

Unfortunately, the Spartans answered with three runs on three hits and one big error in their first trip to the plate.

Stuart would buckle down over his next six innings, scattering just four hits the rest of the way, before exiting after seven strong.

USC Upstate would break through in the eighth, scoring four times to put the game out of reach.

Franco went 3-for-4 with a triple and a walk, while senior Alex Cerda (Miami, FL / Florida Christian School) reached base safely three times.

Stuart was the touch-luck losing pitcher, yielding just two earned runs with six strikeouts, against no walks, over 7.0 solid innings.

Jason Matthews went 2-for-5 with two runs and three RBI, while Jeff Taylor was 3-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, a RBI and a run.

Ben Ferrer struck out seven over 5.0 innings of one-run ball to earn the win.

Manhattan will square off with Presbyterian on Sunday, February 23 at Wofford's Russell C. King Field with opening pitch tabbed for 11:00 am.