Fairfield, Conn. (May 6, 2007)- Fairfield scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth, and held off a Manhattan rally to salvage the finale the three game MAAC series, winning 6-3 this afternoon at Alumni Diamond. Manhattan falls to 30-13 on the season, and loses its first conference game, dropping to 19-1. With two MAAC series left, the Jaspers can be no lower than the #2 seed at the MAAC Championships, with a big series with Le Moyne College looming this coming weekend.
Manhattan scored the game's first run, as Eric Nieto belted a solo home run to left field in the top of the third.
The Jaspers maintained the lead into the bottom of the sixth, before the Stags took advantage of a Manhattan error to score four runs with two outs to take a 4-1 lead.
Manhattan rallied in the eighth, loading the bases with two outs before Dom Lombardi doubled home Matt Rizzotti and Rene Ruiz, but Fairfield was able to record the final out of the inning without allowing the equalizer.
The Stags scored two important insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to provide the final margin.
Manhattan will host the University at Albany at Van Cortlandt Park on Tuesday, May 8 at 3:30 p.m. in the Jaspers' final regular season non-conference game, and will host Le Moyne College in a three-game MAAC series that could decide the MAAC regular season championship on Saturday and Sunday, May 12-13, with first pitch slated for 12 noon each day. The Manhattan seniors will be honored prior to the first game on Saturday.
