April 1, 2007

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

Reliever Tom Moran struck out Nick Messinger and got Jason DeFilippo to foul out with the potential game-tying run just 90-feet away in the bottom of the ninth inning. Moran preserved a 4-3 win for Manhattan, which remained perfect in MAAC play this season. Siena falls to 0-21 on the year, 0-5 in the MAAC.

Manhattan (11-11/6-0) broke a 1-1 tie with three runs off Siena starter Craig Marcellus in the seventh inning. Kevin Neito delivered the big blow with a sharp single up the middle that plated two runs, including the go-ahead score.

Siena (0-21/0-5) rallied in the ninth inning thanks to three Manhattan errors and a pair of base hits. Jake Willis began the frame with his third hit of the game and came around to score the Saints' second run on Phil Cahill's ground out. Gary DerHagopian then lined a single through the left side of the infield that scored Rick Seltzer to make the score 4-3 with one out. Pinch hitter Eric Mruczek reached base on a fielding error that allowed DerHagopian to advance all the way to third base, but Moran relieved Jaspers' starter Tom Costigan and retired the final two batters.

Costigan pitched 8 1/3 innings allowing just one earned run, improving to 2-1 on the season. Marcellus pitched 6 1/3 innings for the Saints allowing six hits and four runs. Siena relievers James Pacifico and Will Hassett were not charged with any runs over the final 2 2/3 innings of the game.

The Saints jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third inning on Phil Cahil's RBI single to right centerfield. Manhattan tied the game on Eric Nieto's groundout in the fifth.

Nunzio Franzese and Rene Ruiz each had two hits for Manhattan. Willis was the only saint to manage a multi-hit game, raising his team-leading batting average to .347 with a 3-for-3 day at the plate.

Siena returns to action Wednesday at Dartmouth.