NORFOLK, VA – Manhattan Jasper baseball secured the sweep against the Norfolk State Spartans with a 6-4 victory Sunday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Field. The Jaspers shift to an even 3-3 overall after this weekend's showcase.
"Today was a great win. The team, I hope, is realizing what they can do," said head coach
Dave Miller. "Our pitching and defense were spectacular all weekend."
Freshman
Michael Staiano snagged his first collegiate win with a career-high four innings on the mound. He allowed just two earned runs on six hits while striking out five batters.
Trey Packen and
Garret Garbinski each saw two innings of relief and held the Spartan offense to just one hit each. Garbinski (So./RHP) snagged a career-high with six strikeouts.
Trevor Hansen and
Trevor Santos led the offensive charge, each going 3-for-4 on the day and scoring one run. Hansen was a triple shy of the cycle, knocking his first homer of the season and 3 RBI.
"We will continue to work hard and the bats will get going here soon enough," added Miller. "Last year was about winning the series and not getting swept. This year is about putting teams away when you have the chance."
The Jaspers started hot with a four-run first inning when
Frankie Marinelli reached on a walk and stole second.
Daniel Perez (2-for-5) singled to left to shift Marinelli to the corner before the Graduate student scored on a Spartan throwing error. With Perez on second (SB), Norfolk State walked
Chase Swain and set the stage for a three-run blast from Hansen to take a 4-0 early lead.
A sacrifice fly scored NSU's Jamal Ritter after he reached on a walk, but starter
Joseph Duffield punched out the next two batters to hold off the threat.
Ritter returned in the bottom of the third with a single up the middle to ignite the Spartan's three-hit, three-run rally that knotted the score, 4-4.
Manhattan bit back in the top of the fourth with the final two runs of the series. An RBI single from
Josiah Brown scored
JD Stemhagen (pinch runner for Drew Miranda, HBP). Stemhagen advanced to the corner on a single from Santos who later scored on a Marinelli rope through the left side.
The Jasper bullpen warded all threats with a follow-up six scoreless innings.
"We still have a lot of work to do, but this weekend was a great start for the Jaspers," said Miller.
The team will ride their three-game win streak into next weekend when they meet Marshall University for a trio of games. First pitch at Jack Cook Field is set for 3 p.m. on Friday, March 1.
