PAMONA, N.Y. – The Manhattan baseball team committed seven errors, and was held scoreless for the final five innings, in a 11-5 loss to Albany at Provident Bank Park in Pamona, N.Y. on Wednesday night. It was the seventh loss in their last nine games for the Jaspers (17-22) as they played their second game at the home of the Can-Am League's Rockland Boulders.
Things started off strong for Manhattan as they put up two runs in the first inning. The first four batters would reach safely against Great Danes starter Joey Moore. After a Nick Camastro walk, Andrew Gorecki would be hit by a pitch before Kyle Murphy brought them both home with a double down the left field line. Ramon Ortega followed with a single putting runners at the corners and nobody out; but Moore got out of the jam without allowing another runner to reach base.
Matt Jordan started for the Jaspers, working around a leadoff double in the first before setting down the side in order in the second. In the top of the third, Albany (17-16-1) was able to push three runs beginning when Evan Harasta and Joey Tracy had consecutive singles to start the frame. Following a sacrifice bunt from Nolan Gaige, Greg Muller singled to left bringing in one run. With runners on the corners and one out, the Jaspers attempted to turn a double play to end the inning, but Yoandry Galan's throw went over the head of first baseman Kyle Murphy allowing a run to come home and the inning to continue. Josh Nethaway then singled to left, putting the Great Danes ahead 3-2, before D.J. Hoagboon grounded out to end the frame.
Manhattan tied it up in the home half when freshman Christian Santisteban singled home Camastro who started the inning with a single. The Great Danes regained the lead in the fourth, putting runners on second and third with one out before Tracy grounded out to short, plating a run. Albany then went to their bullpen to begin the bottom of the inning as Brendan Ryan relieved Moore who went three innings allowing three runs on five hits in a no-decision effort.
Ryan struggled by allowing the first two batters to reach on a hit by pitch and a walk. After Galan was able to break up a double play, putting runners at the corners with one out, before a Camastro double plated Matt Troisi to tie the game at 4-4. Manhattan added another on a wild pitch, taking a 5-4 lead into the fifth.
That inning proved to be the downfall for the Jaspers as the team committed four total errors in the frame. Greg Madej began things with a walk and advanced to third as Jordan's pickoff attempt was off the mark, trickling down the right field line. Nethaway then hit a ground ball to second that Camastro failed to handle effectively, allowing a run to score. Jordan then got Hoagboon to fly out for the first out of the inning.
Jeff Welsh followed with a single up the middle, putting runners on first and second for Albany. Manhattan again looked for a double play to end the inning but Galan's second throwing error of the game allowed Netaway to score, making it 6-5 Great Danes. After a balk placed a runner on third, Harasta reached when Murphy couldn't handle a throw that would have again ended the top of the fifth, allowing Brian Bullard to score the third run of the frame. Two batters later, Jordan was able to end the inning, getting Gaige to fly out to left.
With Manhattan trailing 7-5 in the bottom of the fifth, their bats would be held silent by a combination of three Albany pitchers. Cameron Sorgie tossed a scoreless fifth after a leadoff double from Santisteban, his only inning of work. Andrew Jaurique then went two shutout innings, including leaving the bases loaded in the sixth, before Ryan Stinar pitched two innings of one-run ball including stranding three runners in the ninth.
Meanwhile, the Great Danes padded their lead with a run in sixth when Welsh singled to right plating Muller but was thrown out at second trying to extend the hit into a double for the final out of the frame. Welsh was one of two Albany players with three hits on the game, going 3-for-4 while Bullard was 3-for-5, scoring three runs.
They then tacked on two more in the seventh on three hits. Relief pitcher Tyler Mulvaney began the inning for Manhattan allowing the first two batters to reach before inducing a double play to put a runner on third with two outs. Gaige then singled to right for an RBI, putting Albany ahead 9-5. After Mulvaney walked Muller, Chris Liquori was called on to pitch for the Jaspers and gave up an RBI single to Madej before striking out Hoagboon to leave the bases loaded. The Great Danes plated one more in the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Tracy for his second RBI of the game.
Sorgie (2-3) picked up the win for Albany after his scoreless fifth while Jordan (2-5) took the loss giving up seven runs, two earned, on eight hits in his five innings of work. Mulvaney tossed an inning and two-thirds allowing three runs on four hits and walking three while Liquori pitched an inning and a third allowing one run on three hits. Freshman Yony Fernandez pitched a scoreless ninth inning despite an error by third baseman Joe McClennan.
The Great Danes out hit Manhattan 15 to 10 in the game and were spotless defensively. The loss overshadowed Camastro's 4-for-4 day at the plate, including a walk and one RBI. His single in the third gave him 206 for his career, tying him with Mark Cucurullo ('04) for 10th all-time in program history. He now sits at 209, three shy of tying Nick Derba ('07) for ninth.
Manhattan is back in action on Sat., April 27 when they travel to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe Saint Peter's for a double header. Game one is set to begin at noon with the Peacocks as the two teams will complete the series with one game on Sunday, starting at noon.