STARKVILLE, MS – The Manhattan Jaspers baseball team (0-3, 0-0 MAAC) was edged by the #18 Mississippi State Diamond Dawgs (3-0, 0-0 SEC) by a score of 5-1 inside Dudy Noble Field on Sunday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Jaspers opened the game with Guriyandel Salva in scoring position after logging a one-out walk, followed by Salva's first collegiate base swipe.
- Junior Ryan Lordier followed suit with a one-bag knock into center field.
- Manhattan landed in a mini-jam after retiring the first two batters of the bottom half of the first inning before a swinging strikeout for Mississippi State's Stevens ended any further threat for the home team.
- After giving up two hits to open the second, starting pitcher Joseph Duffield retired the next three batters on five pitches.
- Duffield retired the Diamond Dawgs in order in the third inning, highlighted by a seven-pitch at-bat that resulted in a swinging strikeout.
- In the fifth inning, a two-out solo blast by Dylan Mayer cut the Jaspers' deficit to just a pair of runs.
- St. John's transfer Andrew Castelluccio made his green and white debut by retiring the side in the home half of the fifth inning.
- In the seventh inning's home half, the Jaspers again got in and out of trouble. After plunking the second and third batters, Castelluccio forced a ground out to Trevor Hansen at third base. Then, Colin Basehore was the recipient of a fly-ball to end another threat by Mississippi State.
STATS AND NOTES
- Sophomore Dylan Mayer logged his fifth career home run and first of the 2025 campaign in the visiting half of the fifth inning.
- Freshman Guriyandel Salva battled in four plate appearances, with a pair of walks and one hit. The Carlos Beltran Academy alum also logged his first collegiate stolen base.
- Graduate transfer Cade Udell logged one inning of work and recorded one strikeout in five total batters faced.
QUOTES FROM THE JASPERS
Head Coach Steven Rosen: "I thought we really competed well today and played the game the right way. We played hard, played physical, and strung together some quality at-bats. Offensively we were on the barrel a good bit and our at-bats were competitive. Joe Duffield gave us a great start and Andrew Castelluccio piggybacked him also with a great outing. It was fun to see those guys compete on this stage. Looking forward to another great week of practice and getting better every day."
NEXT UP:
Manhattan returns to the diamond on Tuesday evening, February 18, when the Jaspers face Alcorn State for a 7 p.m. ET start in Mississippi.
