RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan baseball team grabbed three wins at Delaware (3-7) on Sunday to improve its record to 4-3 overall this season. The Jaspers finished off a 17-12 victory in a game which was suspended in the eighth inning yesterday due to darkness. Manhattan then took 10-8 and 18-8 wins over the Blue Hens in the originally scheduled doubleheader. Over the three games, Mark Onorati anchored the Manhattan offense going 9-for-14 (.643) from the plate with four doubles, seven runs and three RBI. Jaspers' senior Kevin Nieto hit .600 (9-for-15), drove in seven RBI, scored five runs and blasted his first home run of the season.
Manhattan entered the opening contest holding a 16-10 advantage beginning in the bottom of the eighth inning. The high scoring slugfest began on Saturday with the Blue Hens rolling out five runs in the bottom of the first inning, a surge which was capped by a three run homer from senior center fielder Josh Dean.
The Jaspers posted an equalizing five runs in the top of the third courtesy of Onorati's two-RBI double, followed by Nick Camastro's run off an error. Junior outfielder Mike McCann also delivered a RBI single, and then he crossed the plate to tie the game on a fielding error.
Manhattan jumped out to an 8-5 lead after Nieto's RBI double in the fourth and two more RBIs from senior Anthony Armenio and red-shirt freshman Ramon Ortega in the fifth. Armenio hit .467 (7-for-15) in the four game series and posted six RBI. Ortega batted .462 (6-for-13) with five RBI playing in three games.
After Delaware evened the contest at 8-8 in the fifth, the Jaspers responded with four runs in both the seventh and eighth innings taking a lead it would not relinquish. The seventh featured a RBI single from Will DeRuve and a two-RBI double from Nieto. In the eighth Austin Sheffield had a two-RBI double, while DeRuve and Camastro each singled in runs. Sheffield completed the series with seven RBI in four starts at first base.
Jaspers' starter Mike Giordano recorded the win going six innings with two strikeouts. Freshman John Soldinger recorded his second save in as many games. The local product from Bay Shore, N.Y. came out of the bullpen for the final three innings allowing just one earned run and notched two strikeouts.
Manhattan registered its second win of the afternoon in the seven inning ballgame of the doubleheader. The Blue Hens got on the scoreboard first with a RBI from senior Ryan Cuneo in the first, but the Jaspers rallied for four runs in the third and three more runs in the fourth to take a 7-1 advantage. Nieto led off the scoring spree with a solo homer. Armenio also was part of the action with a two RBI double and Sheffield contributed a RBI single.
The fourth inning featured junior Chad Salem stealing home. Salem also had a solid series with the Blue Hens batting .556 (5-for-9), six RBI, along with a monstrous 1.111 slugging percentage.
Manhattan tagged on three more runs in the sixth inning courtesy of Armenio's two-RBI triple down the right field line. He later scored off an error to go up 10-2.
Jaspers' senior Tom Costigan managed to hold off Delaware over the final six innings, despite allowing six over the final two frames in the relief appearance. Costigan earned the victory and notched four strikeouts.
The series finale featured a Jaspers' 13 run seventh inning which blew the game open. Onorati was a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate with a double and RBI. Manhattan posted four runs in the first inning and never looked back. Onorati and Armenio began with RBI singles and Ortega capped the frame with a two-RBI double.
Delaware posted one run in the second, third and fifth innings, to pull within 4-3, before the Jaspers tore the lacing off the ball with 13 runs on 11 hits in the seventh. Freshman Kyle Murphy recorded a two-RBI double in the early stages of the scoring flurry, and then after Nieto's two-RBI single Salem launched a grand slam.
The surge provided more than enough support for the Jaspers' pitching staff. Freshman Eric Luksis got Manhattan through the first six innings allowing just two earned runs while striking out seven for the win. Relievers Mike Gonzalez and Tom Moran delivered scoreless innings, and Rob Ardino also got work out of the bullpen.
Manhattan returns to action on Tuesday when the Jaspers travel to cross-Bronx rival Fordham. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.