Fishkill, N.Y. (May 26, 2006)- Sophomore Eric Nieto picked the perfect time to hit his first collegiate home run, connecting on a solo homer to left center in the top of the eighth to give Manhattan its first lead of the day, and senior Chris Cody set a new career-high with 12 strikeouts, including four of the final six outs, in a complete game win as the Jaspers advance to the Championship Round of the MAAC Championships with a 3-2 win over top-seeded Le Moyne tonight at Dutchess County Stadium.
The Dolphins touched Cody, the 2006 MAAC Pitcher of the Year, for two runs in the bottom of the first. The southpaw issued a leadoff walk before three consecutive singles plated two runs for an early 2-0 lead.
Cody would settle down from there, allowing just two balls to leave the infield the rest of the way.
Manhattan would finally solve Dolphin starter TJ Sheridan in the fifth. Rene Ruiz led off the inning with a single, and was sacrificed to second by Nunzio Franzese. Nieto would walk to put two runners on, and both moved into scoring position via a wild pitch. Nick Derba would follow with a single to left center, scoring both Ruiz and Nieto to even the score at 2-2.
Le Moyne would threaten in the bottom of the frame. Keith Connors would draw a one out walk, and move all the way to third on a failed pickoff attempt, but Cody would induce a foul out to the catcher and a groundout to short to escape the jam.
The score stayed the same until the top of the eighth, when Nieto, known more for his speed, belted a 3-2 pitch through the foggy night and over the left centerfield fence to put Manhattan ahead for good.
Cody (11-2) would strike out the side in the eighth, before setting down the side in order in the ninth to close out the game.
With the win, Manhattan advanced through the winner's bracket, and awaits the winner of the Le Moyne/Niagara elimination game. The Championship Round is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. with the Jaspers needing just one win to win its first ever MAAC Championship. If necessary, a second game will be played at 4:00 p.m.