Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? The Manhattan baseball team hit its way to a 19-14 victory over Saint Joseph's (3-9) on Saturday afternoon at Latshaw-McCarthy Field in Philadelphia. Jaspers junior designated hitter Anthony Armenio delivered a career-high six RBIs and blasted his third home run of the season. Kevin Nieto and Chad Salem also homered to help lift Manhattan (5-5) to its fourth straight win.
Nieto got the Jaspers' offensive surge started in the third inning when he sent his fourth home run of the season over the left field fence cutting into a two run deficit. Four batters later, Armenio gave Manhattan its first lead of the contest (3-2) with a two RBI double into left field. Sophomore first baseman Austin Sheffield capped the five run rally with a two RBI single.
Armenio hit 4-for-5 and scored three runs, while Sheffield added two hits and three RBIs to the effort. Nieto also had two hits and scored four runs.
Saint Joseph's tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the third with one swing of the bat when junior David Valesente launched a two run shot out of left field. He was 2-for-3 and scored three runs.
In the top of the fifth, Armenio sparked the Jaspers charge to the finish with a two run homer to regain the lead (7-5). Then in the sixth, Manhattan added three more runs to maintain a 10-9 edge. Nieto scored on a fielding error, Ruben Perez posted a RBI single and Mark Onorati scored on Mike McCann's sacrifice fly.
The Jaspers broke open the contest scoring nine runs between the seventh and eighth innings. Manhattan jumped on freshman relief pitcher A.J. Holland and recorded six runs on six hits in the seventh. Armenio was responsible for two RBI, while Ryan Masters, Perez, McCann and Sheffield each drove in a run.
In the eighth, Salem crushed a three run homer out of left field to extend Manhattan's lead to 19-9. Salem registered two hits and scored four runs in the contest.
Saint Joseph's added five runs in the bottom of the ninth, but Jaspers' right hander Rob LaColla eventually recorded the final three outs to secure the victory.
Freshman reliever Matt Jordan received the bulk of the work on the mound and earned the first victory of his collegiate career. Jordan tossed four and two third innings, allowed three runs and struck out two batters.
Manhattan completes its Philadelphia road trip on Sunday at La Salle beginning at noon.
