Riverdale, NY (April 18, 2004) -
Jesse Darcy pitched 6.2 innings of shutout relief, and
John Fitzpatrick went 2-4 with two RBI, including the game-winner in the fifth, as Manhattan posted a 5-4 MAAC win over Iona this afternoon at Van Cortlandt Park. The Jaspers win the series and improve to 10-17-1, 6-4 in MAAC play.
Iona (11-19, 4-6 MAAC) got on the board early, plating a run in the top of the first off Manhattan starter
Chris Cody, as Matt Callahan scored on an error by the Jaspers.
Manhattan responded with four runs in its half of the frame against Gael starter Marty Hand.
Matt Cucurullo, Fitzpatrick, and Sylvester Gutierrez each had RBI singles, and
Sam Deluca connected on an RBI double.
The Gaels answered in the top of the third, knotting the score at 4-4 on a sacrifice fly by Matt Bruno, and a two-RBI single by James LaSala.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Jaspers took the lead for good as
Nick Derba led off the inning with a single through the left side and advanced to second on an error by the Iona left fielder. Cucurullo advanced him to third on a groundout before Fitzpatrick singled him home.
Darcy (1-2) allowed just two singles over 6.2 innings of work to pick up his first collegiate win, striking out five. Hand (2-6) allowed one earned run over 6.1 innings for Iona, while James Kosky went 1.2 perfect innings of relief.
Gutierrez joined Fitzpatrick as the only Jaspers to post multi-hit games, going 2-4 with one RBI. Rob Villanova went 3-5 to lead the Gaels.
Manhattan gets back in action on Tuesday, April 20, when the Jaspers host Sacred Heart at Van Cortlandt Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
