GAME 2 BOXSCORE
Riverdale, NY (May 14, 2005)- Manhattan split an important MAAC double header with Le Moyne this afternoon at Van Cortlandt Park, taking the second game, 5-2, after dropping the opener, 9-5. The Jaspers are now 24-17, 12-7 in MAAC play, while the Dolphins are now 24-18, 14-7 in MAAC play. Manhattan honored seniors Shane Bolin, Sly Gutierrez, John Maser, Phil Kuhner, and Gary Diaz before the game.
In the nightcap, Steve Bronder (5-3) allowed no earned runs while scattering seven hits and tallying eight strikeouts on the way to his fifth win of the season.
Le Moyne got on the board first, plating two unearned runs in the top of the fourth. Manhattan responded with a three-run two-out rally in the bottom of the frame.
A two walks sandwiched around two outs put runners on first and second before Dom Lombardi drove home Gary Diaz with an lined single to center. Nunzio Franzese followed with a two-run double down the left field line, chasing home Lombardi and John Fitzpatrick to give the Jaspers a 3-2 lead.
Manhattan added two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth, as, after Nick Derba was intentionally walked to load the bases, Matt Rizzotti laced the ball through the right side, scoring Diaz and Matt Nevins. The two upped Rizzotti's team leading total to 54, breaking the Manhattan single season record of 52, set last season by 2004 graduate Matt Cucurullo.
Le Moyne starter TJ Sheridan (6-1) was tagged with his first loss of the season, allowing four runs, all earned. Sheridan entered the game among the NCAA leaders in ERA, at 0.81.
In the opener, the Dolphins scored two runs, one earned in the top of the first off Manhattan starter Chris Cody.
The Jaspers cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fifth when Nieto singled home Maser, who had led off the inning with a double. But Le Moyne would score twice in the top of the sixth, three times in the seventh, and once more in the eighth to take a 8-1 lead before Manhattan attempted to stage a comeback.
In the bottom of the eighth, Le Moyne starter Bobby Blevins began to tire, allowing three of the first four batters to reach without the benefit of a hit, as he hit two batters and walked the third. With the bases loaded and one out, Blevins picked Franzese off first base for the second out before Kuhner singled to center to plate Rizzotti and Derba and make the score 8-3. After a single and a walk reloaded the bases, Nieto singled down the left field line, scoring Maser and Kuhner and bringing Manhattan within three at 8-5. Ryan Toth relieved Blevins and induced an inning ending popup, ending the Manhattan comeback. Le Moyne scored once in the top of the ninth to provide the final margin.
Blevins (7-3) allowed five runs, all earned, and 11 hits, striking out five. Cody (7-2) allowed six runs, three earned, over six innings, striking out five.
Manhattan and Le Moyne will conclude the three game series Sunday, May 15, with a single, nine-inning game at 1:00 p.m.
