March 27, 2009
Final Stats
Siena (3-19, 0-4) scored five times in the eighth to erase a 5-0 deficit, but Manhattan (10-7, 4-0) answered with six runs in the ninth to pull out an 11-5 MAAC baseball win at Siena Field in the Saints' home opener Friday afternoon. The two teams will complete their three-game series with a noon doubleheader Saturday.
The Jaspers scored twice in the third and three times in the fourth off Saints' starter Craig Chaput. Chaput did not allow a run over his final three innings of work, keeping the Saints within striking distance.
In the home half of the eighth, Kevin Quaranto doubled home a run to start the scoring and Eric Mruzcek's ensuing single made the score 5-2. Phil Cahill then lined a ball to center that was mishandled with two outs, allowing the tying run to come to the plate. Senior Nick Messinger did not disappoint, delivering a three-run home run to left field that knotted the game at 5-5.
The Siena bullpen did not do its job on the ninth. Manhattan struck for six runs on four hits - all coming with two outs. Two of the first three Jaspers to bat in the ninth were retired, but the next six all reached base safely. The eventual winning run scored on Anthony Amenio's two-run single to center field. Austin Sheffield capped off the scoring with a long three-run home run to left field.
Manhattan's pitching staff allowed just two earned runs. Starter Mike Gazzola tossed seven and a third solid innings, striking out five and allowing just six hits. Reliever Tom Moran picked up the victory despite allowing Messinger's eighth inning blast.
Anthony Giansanti and Dan Paolini collected two of Siena's 10 hits. Sheffield had four hits for Manhattan, Rubern Perez had three and Kevin Nieto, Mike McCann and Armenio each had two.
The teams complete their weekend series Saturday. Today's game was rescheduled due to poor weather in the forecast for Sunday.
