Albany, N.Y. (April 3, 2007)- Manhattan ran its road win streak to seven games, among the longest in the nation, defeating University at Albany, 5-2, this afternoon at Varsity Field. The Jaspers, who have win eight of their last nine, improve to 12-11 overall, while the Great Danes see their five game win streak snapped, falling to 10-11.
Albany would score its only two runs of the game in the bottom of the first off starter Zac Goyer on an RBI single and a passed ball to grab the early, 2-0, lead.
Manhattan would respond in the top of the third, plating two runs to knot the score at 2-2. Rene Ruiz led off the inning with a walk, and, after two outs, scored on a triple to right off the bat of Kevin Nieto. Matt Rizzotti would score Kevin Nieto with an RBI single down the right field line.
Goyer would settle in after his rough first frame, allowing just two hits over 4.1 innings of work before passing the ball to Brian Pendergast. Pendergast shut down the Great Dane offense, which had scored 28 runs in their last three games, the rest of the way, allowing just an eight inning, two-out, single, while walking none and striking out two to improve to 3-0 on the season.
The Jaspers take the lead in the seventh, as Kevin Nieto singled with one out, stole second, and scored on another Rizzotti RBI single. Manhattan would put the game out of reach in the ninth, scoring two runs. Eric Nieto led off the inning with a single, and came all the way around to score on a double by his brother Kevin. Kevin Nieto advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on an RBI sacrifice fly by Nick Derba.
Pendergast fashioned a 1-2-3 ninth to close things out.
Kevin Nieto paced the Manhattan offense, going 3-3 with three runs scored, two RBI, two walks, two stolen bases, a double, and a triple. Rizzotti also tallied a multi-hit game, going 3-5 with two RBI.
Manhattan returns to action this weekend, traveling to local and MAAC rival Iona College for a three-game conference series. The Jaspers and Gaels will play a double-header on Friday, April 6 and a single, nine-inning game on Saturday, April 7. The first pitch on both days is slated for 12 noon.
