Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Senior third baseman Chad Salem drove in two runs to become the Jaspers' career RBI leader as he helped the Manhattan baseball team defeat BIG EAST opponent Seton Hall (5-9) for the third straight season winning 6-3 on Wednesday in South Orange, N.J. Salem knocked home his team leading 15th RBI of the year and 179th of his career to surpass former Jaspers slugger John Fitzpatrick (177, 2003-06) on the program's all-time list.
Manhattan (4-9) put the first run on the scoreboard in the second inning when freshman shortstop Yoandry Galan doubled in sophomore outfielder Anthony Vega who singled earlier in the frame. Jaspers' freshman starter Scott McClennan gave the Jaspers three solid innings on the mound and yielded just three hits. The Pirates scored their only run off of McClennan in the third inning to tie the game at 1-1 with freshman center fielder Zack Granite's single through the left side.
Jaspers' freshman pitcher Jared Hirschberg dominated the next three innings out of the bullpen locking the Pirates down for only one hit and striking out three batters. The stability on the mound gave Manhattan the opportunity to gain 3-1 advantage in the fifth inning. Senior first baseman Austin Sheffield was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the first run, and then sophomore designated hitter Ramon Ortega singled home the second run for his fourth RBI this season.
Manhattan extended its lead to 5-1 in the seventh inning when Salem recorded his first RBI, and then senior outfielder Mark Onorati scored on a fielding error. Onorati crossed the plate three times and had two hits in the ballgame. The Williston Park, N.Y. native leads Manhattan with 15 runs scored on the year.
The Pirates posted two runs off of Manhattan left-handed pitcher Eric Luksis to cut their deficit to 5-3 in the eighth inning. Luksis could only record one out before freshman reliever Jacob Marchus had to work the Jaspers out of the jam with runners on first and second.
In the ninth inning, Salem doubled for the fifth time this season to send Onorati across home plate to extend Manhattan's lead to 6-3. Manhattan sophomore John Soldinger recorded the final three outs in order in the bottom of the frame to earn the save.
Hirschberg earned credit for the win, while Seton Hall starting pitcher Jon Prosinski received the loss. Prosinski gave up six hits and three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Manhattan travels to Philadelphia this weekend for three games at LaSalle (March 18), Saint Joseph's (March 19) and Villanova (March 20).