FAIRFIELD, CT – The Manhattan Jaspers baseball team (8-14, 3-6 MAAC) took down the Pioneers of Sacred Heart University (11-10, 6-3 MAAC) by a score of 11-8 inside Veterans Park on Sunday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Starting the series finale in boisterous fashion were the Jaspers, who tacked on five runs in the opening frame.
- Andreaus Lewis reached first on an error, which allowed Aidan Taclas to advance to second after opening the game with a walk.
- Scoring off an infield single by Ryan Lordier was Taclas, who opened the scoring and never looked back. Two batters later, with the bases loaded, Hunter Sute launched a grand slam to drive home Colin Basehore, Lordier, and Jeremy Hatch before the Pioneers retired the next two batters.
- In the top of the second inning, the Green and White sustained a couple of unforeseen injuries that forced the pitcher Joey Craska into the batter's box and successfully laid down a bunt to drive home Taclas, who singled to second two batters earlier.
- Manhattan added two more runs, with Basehore knocking a base-hit up the middle to drive home Guriyandel Salva and the aforementioned Craska, which gave the Jaspers a seven-run advantage.
- Craska surrendered three runs on the bump to bring the Pioneers within four, highlighted by a D'Amore base hit into center field.
- After Salva and Lordier singled their way on-base, Hunter Sute drove in the former on a sacrifice fly into center field to re-expand the Jaspers' lead back to five.
- Following a Sacred Heart call to the bullpen, Taclas smashed a solo home run with two outs to extend its lead back to six runs.
- In the eighth inning, Trevor Hansen reached on a throwing error by the Pioneers shortstop, allowing Lordier to score from second.
- Head Coach Steven Rosen summoned Chris Fidanza from the bullpen, who shut the door to take the third game of three.
STATS AND NOTES
- Ryan Lordier logged a team-high three hits in four total at-bats on the afternoon. The second baseman crossed the plate twice and was plunked once.
- Aidan Taclas launched his third NCAA home run against Sacred Heart this afternoon in a two-for-five afternoon. He crossed the plate three times and worked a walk.
- Hunter Sute notched a grand slam in the first inning to finish the afternoon with a game-high five runs batted in in a one-for-two afternoon.
- Joey Craska tossed two innings of work and struck out one. Craska logged his first at-bat due to injuries sustained in the Manhattan batting order that saw the designated hitter evaporate. The NJIT transfer notched his first run-batted-in off a bunt.
- Braedon Romero logged one and two-thirds innings of work, tossing four punchouts in 39 total pitches.
QUOTES FROM THE JASPERS
Head Coach Steven Rosen: "Very proud of the way the boys responded today after a tough day yesterday. They showed a lot of heart - and played the game really hard to finish the weekend out the right way. So many players contributed to this win in so many different or unorthodox ways and that's what I'm most proud of."
NEXT UP:
Manhattan returns to the diamond on Wednesday, March 26, to face the Lions of Columbia University just 40 blocks south inside Robertson Field at Satow Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch.