Loudonville, N.Y. (April 1, 2007)- Manhattan scored three runs in the top of the seventh to break open a close game, and the Jaspers held off a late Siena rally, defeating the Saints, 4-3, this afternoon to complete the MAAC series sweep and improve to 11-11 overall, and 6-0 MAAC. The 6-0 start to conference play is the best in over five years.
For the first time in the series, Siena scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of a Manhattan error to score an unearned run.
Siena starter Craig Marcellus kept the Jasper offense off balance for the first four innings, before Manhattan was able to get on the scoreboard in the fifth. Nunzio Franzese led off the inning with a double to right field, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on an RBI groundout by Eric Nieto to knot the score at 1-1.
The score remained deadlocked until the seventh inning. After a single and a fielder's choice, Eric Nieto put runners on second and third with a double down the left field line. Kevin Nieto followed with a sharp single up the middle to score Rene Ruiz and Eric Nieto. After a pitching change, Kevin Nieto greeted the new Saint pitcher by promptly stealing second base. After Mike Garcia drew a walk, the Jaspers executed a double steal, and Kevin Nieto would score on the play on a throwing error by Siena.
The Saints took advantage of three Manhattan errors to score two runs, one earned, in the bottom of the ninth, but Tom Moran came on with one out and the tying run on third and collected a strikeout and a foul out to end the game and pick up his second MAAC save.
Costigan earned his second MAAC win in as many tries, working the first 8.1 innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out four.
The Jaspers return to the diamond on Wednesday, April 4, traveling to Albany, N.Y. to take on the University at Albany Great Danes. The game is scheduled to being at 3:30 p.m.
