GAME 2 BOXSCORE
Riverdale, NY (April 17, 2004)- Josh Santerre hurled a complete game, allowing no earned runs, as Manhattan took the opening game of the MAAC double header, 4-1, today at Van Cortlandt Park. In game two, Iona scored three runs in the top of the seventh to earn the 6-5 comeback win. Manhattan is now 9-17-1 on the season, 5-4 in MAAC play.
In the first game, the Jaspers scored single runs in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings as Santerre cruised to the victory. John Fitzpatrick started the scoring with an RBI single in the fourth, scoring Frank Cappello. Josh Greco connected on a solo home run to left to make the score 2-0 after four innings. Fitzpatrick doubled home Matt Cucurullo to increase the lead to 3-0 after five, and Nick Derba scored on an Gael error in the sixth to make the score 4-0.
Santerre had scattered two hits over the first eight innings before Iona (11-18, 4-5 MAAC) plated a run in the top of the ninth on an RBI single by Steve Sallustio. Santerre (4-3) would pick up the win, allowing just the one unearned run on five hits, while striking out nine and walking just one. Sean Kramer (4-5) took the loss for the Gaels.
In game two, Manhattan jumped on Iona starter Chris Lopez early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Fitzpatrick doubled home Cappello for the first run, followed by an RBI single by Sam Deluca, which scored Cucurullo from third. Fitzpatrick also came home as the Iona centerfielder made an error on the play.
The Jaspers would add a run in the bottom of the third on a Fitzpatrick double, his third of the afternoon, which chased home Cappello to make the score 4-0 in favor of Manhattan.
After allowing just one hit over the first four innings, Jasper starting pitcher Mike Parisi ran into trouble in the top of the fifth, loading the bases with none out. After a walk to Matt Callahan scored Kevin Sorhaindo, Steve Bronder came out of the pen for Manhattan. After a pop out, Iona cut the lead to 4-2 on an RBI sacrifice fly by Rob Fortner-Villanova. An RBI single by Mike Perrone plated Dan Potocki to make the score 4-3 before Bronder was able to induce a groundout to end the inning.
Manhattan would score a run in the bottom of the fifth on a Deluca RBI double, which plated Derba to put the lead back to two, 5-3, after five innings.
In the top of the seventh, Fortner-Villanova tied the game at 5-5 with a two-run blast to right field before Iona took the lead by taking advantage of a Jasper error that would have ended the inning.
Brian Parish pitched a perfect seventh to pick up his fifth save of the season. Bronder (1-3) allowed three runs over 2.1 innings in the loss. Matt Percelli (2-1) earned the win in relief for the Gaels.
The two teams will complete their three game series with a nine inning game tomorrow, April 18. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 noon.
