Riverdale, NY (May 10, 2005)- Manhattan's
Gary Diaz tallied hits in his first two at bats to tie the Manhattan all-time career hits record, as the Jaspers posted a 10-1 non-conference win over St. Francis-NY this afternoon at Van Cortlandt Park. Diaz now has 206 career hits, tying him with 2004 graduate
Matt Cucurullo for the all-time lead. The Jaspers improve their record to 22-16, while the Terriers fall to 7-32.
St. Francis got on the board first, plating a run in the bottom of the first, but the lead was short lived, as Manhattan fashioned a four run bottom of the first to take a lead it would never relinquish.
Eric Nieto led off the inning with a walk, and advanced to second on the first of Diaz's hits, a line single to center. After a double steal put runners on second a third,
Nick Derba walked to load the bases for reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week
Matt Rizzotti, who doubled to right center to score Nieto and Diaz.
John Fitzpatrick followed with a single down the left field line to plate Derba and Rizzotti, giving Manhattan a 4-1 lead after one inning.
The score remained 4-1 until the bottom of the sixth, when Nieto doubled home
John Maser to make the score 5-1 Manhattan.
The Jaspers would put the game away with a four run seventh as
Nunzio Franzese came through with a two-RBI single, driving home Rizzotti and pinch runner
Shane Bolin, before Maser plated Franzese with an RBI single. The final run of the inning came when Maser scored on a St. Francis error.
Phil Kuhner doubled home Diaz in the bottom of the eighth to provide the final margin.
Jesse Darcy (5-4) scattered 11 hits over 7.2 innings, allowing one run while striking out four and walking none.
Jeremy Shaw hurled a perfect 1.1 innings to close out the game, striking out one. Tom Curry (0-7) took the loss for the Terriers, allowing nine runs, eight earned, over 6.2 innings, striking out four.
Manhattan gets back in action tomorrow, Wednesday, May 11, when the Jaspers host Sacred Heart at 1:00 p.m. at Van Cortlandt Park in the final non-conference home game of the season for Manhattan.
