GAME 2 BOXSCORE
Riverdale, NY (March 27, 2004)- In the home and conference opener for the Jaspers, Niagara took both games of the MAAC double header at Van Cortlandt Park, taking the first game, 9-2, and the second game, 2-1. Manhattan falls to 4-13 on the season, 0-2 in MAAC play.
In the first game, the Purple Eagles (5-12, 2-0 MAAC) plated run in the top of the first on a Mike Alati RBI single, scoring Vince Ircandia. Niagara extended the lead to 2-0 in the top of the third on a Reed Eastley RBI groundout.
Manhattan drew even at 2-2 with single runs in the third and fourth. John Maser drove home John Fitzpatrick on an RBI groundout in the third and a Josh Greco RBI sacrifice fly plated Sam Deluca in the fourth. Jasper starting pitcher Mike Parisi pitched out of several jams over the course of his 6.2 innings of work, striking out nine while walking only one.
The Purple Eagles chased Parisi in the top of the seventh, scoring four runs on four hits, including a Greg Lehman two-run home run, before Jesse Darcy came on in relief to record the final out of the inning. Niagara added three more runs in the eighth on an Andrew MacNevin RBI single and an Alati two RBI double.
Parisi (0-3) took the loss for Manhattan, while Ryan Virtue (2-0) picked up his second win of the season and James Avery picked up his first save of the year.
In the second game, Josh Sawatzky (1-4) went the distance for Niagara, allowing just one run while scattering seven hits as the Purple Eagles took the 2-1 win.
The Purple Eagles again got on the board first, as Alati connected on a solo home run to right in the top of the second for the 1-0 lead. Manhattan would even the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the third, as Frank Cappello doubled home Jonathan Holzer from first.
Niagara regained the lead for good in the top of the fourth on a Matt Schaefer RBI single, plating Andrew MacNevin.
Josh Santerre (2-3) pitched a complete game for Manhattan, allowing two earned runs, while recording six strikeouts. Cappello and Nick Derba each tallied two hits for Manhattan.
The two teams will complete their three game series with a nine inning game tomorrow, March 28. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 noon.
