RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Manhattan extended its winning streak to six games as the Jaspers picked up back-to-back wins over West Virginia (4-9) on Friday. The Jaspers edged the Mountaineers 4-3 in game one, and then blew up for a 13-1 victory in the nightcap. Senior outfielder Kevin Nieto and Chad Salem each went 4-for-7 (.571) with two doubles and combined for seven runs in the two contests. Manhattan starting pitchers Mike Giordano and Tom Costigan earned wins on the hill against the BIG EAST opponent.
Manhattan (7-3) kept its streak alive in game one sliding past the Mountaineers behind solid pitching from Giordano and reliever John Soldinger who recorded his third save of the year. Junior outfielder Mike McCann and red-shirt freshman Ramon Ortega provided all the offensive support needed logging two RBIs apiece in the triumph.
Giordano notched four strikeouts in his second win of the season. The sophomore from Bedford, N.Y. yielded just three earned runs in his second meeting with a BIG EAST member. Giordano recorded the first win of his collegiate career last year at Seton Hall.
West Virginia scored its first run in the second inning when junior shortstop Jedd Gyorko doubled in second baseman Colin Durborow.
The Jaspers responded with two runs in the top of the third courtesy of McCann's two RBI single into right field. Freshman shortstop Nick Camastro got the three hit rally started with a single, and then Nieto moved the Jaspers in scoring position with his fourth double of the year into right center.
Manhattan tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning, which proved to be enough. Salem reached base on a walk, Anthony Armenio was hit by a pitch, and then Austin Sheffield moved the two into scoring position on an infield ground out. Ortega capitalized on the opportunity with two outs as he laced the decisive two RBI single to center field sending Manhattan ahead 4-1.
West Virginia generated two more runs off three hits and one error in the bottom of the fourth, but the Jaspers' pitching staff shutdown the Mountaineers the rest of the way. Giordano battled through a scoreless fifth and sixth innings retiring six of seven batters faced. He turned the ball over to Soldinger in the seventh who forced two ground outs and closed the game striking out freshman catcher Matt Malloy who was caught looking.
Junior right-hander Jarryd Summers pitched the complete game for the Mountaineers allowing five hits and four earned runs as he fell to 0-2 in four starts.
In game two, Manhattan rallied behind Costigan who was lights out for eight innings with eight strikeouts. The senior right-hander from Cold Spring, N.Y. retired 14 of the first 15 batters holding West Virginia scoreless through the fifth inning.
The Jaspers' bats warmed up in the fourth when Salem led off the inning with his fifth double of the season. He later scored the first run of the ballgame on Sheffield's sacrifice fly. Salem hit 3-for-6 in the contest, scored three runs and added two RBI.
Manhattan broke out with four more runs on four hits and one error in the fifth. Salem, Sheffield and Ortega drove in runs, along with Armenio who highlighted the surge with a RBI double propelling the Jaspers to a 5-0 advantage.
West Virginia received its only run of the ballgame from Gyorko who had a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Onorati nullified the run with a lead off home run in the top of the seventh, and then Manhattan posted six more runs in the eighth to take a commanding 12-1 lead. Onorati's sacrifice fly in the ninth capped the Jaspers surge past the Mountaineers.
Onorati hit 2-for-3 in the game, scored two runs and had three RBI. Jaspers' freshman second baseman Kyle Murphy also had two hits and crossed the plate once.
Jaspers' reliever Tom Moran tossed a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout to complete the win.
Manhattan and West Virginia return to action on Saturday for a single game at 1 p.m. The clubs are scheduled to finish the four game set on Sunday at 1 p.m.