Syracuse, N.Y. (April 9, 2006)-
Rene Ruiz executed a textbook suicide squeeze to tie the score in the eighth inning, and
Ryan Marcoux came through with a full count, two-out, two-run single as the Jaspers defeated Le Moyne, 4-2, to win the three game series this afternoon at Dick Rockwell Field. Manhattan maintains its place atop the MAAC standings, improving to 13-11 overall, but 7-2 in MAAC play. The Dolphins fall to 13-9, 5-4 in MAAC play.
The Jaspers scored the game's first run, as
Mike Garcia singled from
Eric Nieto, who had drawn a one out walk.
Le Moyne would plate single runs in the fourth and fifth to take a 2-1 lead. The first run, an unearned run, came on a fielding error by Manhattan, while the second came as a result of a solo homer by Keith Connors.
The score remained 2-1 Le Moyne into the eight, before Manhattan began to rally.
John Fitzpatrick began the inning with a leadoff walk, and Jourdain Dutton replaced him as a pinch runner.
Dom Lombardi was hit by a pitch on the ensuing at bat, placing runner on first and second with none out.
Ruben Perez advanced both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, before Ruiz got down the bunt with Dutton racing home to knot the score at 2-2.
In the ninth,
Nick Derba reached on an error with one out before advancing to second on a wild pitch. After a strikeout, an intentional walk, and a second wild pitch, Marcoux, who replaced Dutton in the DH spot, came through with the clutch hit.
Jesse Darcy completed a masterful pitching performance by the Manhattan staff with a complete game win. He scattered six hits, while allowing just one earned run. Darcy tallied eight strikeouts.
Over the three game series, Jasper pitching held the Dolphins to nine hits (9-79, .114 BA), and only one extra base hit, while combining for 20 strikeouts.
Manhattan gets back in action on Wednesday, April 12, traveling to West Point, N.Y. to take on Army at 3:30 p.m.
