Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? Mark Russell and Mark Onorati each drove in three runs, and the Manhattan College baseball team used a big fifth inning to post its 17th straight victory at Van Cortlandt Park, including seven straight this season, on Wednesday. The Jaspers (21-10) scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to break open a 1-0 game en route to an 8-1 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson (9-18) in non-conference action.
With the Jaspers leading 1-0, Onorati started the fifth inning rally with a leadoff home run to center field. Kevin Nieto followed with a base hit, then single-handedly added another run, swiping second and third before coming home on a wild pitch. After a walk and back-to-back hit batsmen loaded the bases, Will DeRuve drew a walk to increase Manhattan's lead to 3-0. Russell was up next, and he roped a two-run single to right field. Onorati capped the rally that he got started with his second hit of the inning, a single to left center that drove in a pair. In total, 12 Jaspers came to the plate in the bottom of the fifth, and FDU needed three pitchers to get out of the inning.
The game started off as a pitcher's duel, as Zac Goyer and Jonathan Scott matched zeroes until the bottom of the fourth, when Manhattan tallied the first run of the contest. After singles by Anthony Armenio and Ruben Perez, DeRuve walked to load the bases with two out. Russell followed with a screeching grounder back to the mound that bounced off Scott's leg and rolled towards third base. Armenio came around on the RBI infield single.
Goyer and Rob LaColla held the Knights scoreless through eight before FDU pushed across an unearned run off Matt Troisi in the top of the ninth. The inning started with a throwing error, then Vincent Pennachino laced a single. With two out, Matt Holsman sent a RBI double to left center that broke up the shutout.
Onorati and Russell went a combined 5-for-8 with six RBIs in the game. Onorati was 3-for-5 with three RBIs, while Russell went 2-for-3 and also knocked in three. Armenio scored two runs, and Perez had two hits, as the Jaspers outhit the Knights 11-6. Goyer (3-2) started and wet six innings on the mound. He yielded just two hits, struck out six Knights and walked two. LaColla gave up two hits in two innings, and Troisi surrendered two hits and an unearned run in the ninth.
Leadoff man Holsman had three of FDU's six hits, going 3-for-4 in the game, and drove in the Knights' only run. Six different pitchers got into the game for FDU. Scott (1-2) took the loss after yielding four runs and eight hits with five strikeouts and two walks over 4.1 innings. Afer Brian Sprague and Chris Theordor got their team out of the fifth, John Schmidt, Corey Jeffers and Ben Durgan each posted a scoreless inning of relief.
Manhattan looks to keep its home field winning streak in tact with a three-game Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) series this weekend. Fairfield visits Van Cortlandt Park for a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, and Sunday's series finale is also scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.
