Niagara University, NY (May 1, 2005)- Manhattan dropped a 5-3 decision to Niagara in the opening game of a three game MAAC series this afternoon at John P. Bobo Field on the Niagara campus. The Jaspers fall to 17-14 overall, and 8-4 in MAAC play.
The Purple Eagles got on the board first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second to take an early, 2-0 lead. Manhattan would respond in the top of the third, pushing across two runs to knot the score at 2-2.
John Maser scored the first run on a Niagara error before
Gary Diaz drove home the tying run with an RBI single, bringing home
Eric Nieto.
The Jaspers would take the lead in the fifth, as Maser scored on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of
Nick Derba to give Manhattan a 3-2 lead.
Niagara would score one in the seventh to bring the Purple Eagles even at 3-3, before adding two more in the eighth to give Niagara the win.
Nieto paced Manhattan, going 3-3.
Chris Cody took his first loss of the season, striking out eight over 7.2 innings of work.
The two teams will conclude the three game set tomorrow, Monday, May 2, at a time to be determined.
