Box Score
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Trialing 3-0 in the ninth inning, Manhattan got its first three runners aboard in the ninth inning against Florida Gulf Coast starter Michael Murray. Eagles' closer Brady Anderson came on in relief to get a fielder's choice and induce a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat, giving Florida Gulf Coast a 3-1 win over the Jaspers on Friday night.
Manhattan freshman right-hander Joey Rocchietti pitched seven strong innings, allowing just two earned runs, three runs total, in a career-high seven innings of work.
Florida Gulf Coast pushed across single runs in the first, third and seventh innings, allowing Murray to continue his string of outstanding starting pitching. Murray entered the game having allowed just one earned run in 21 2/3 innings pitched.
The Jaspers got runners to second and third with one out in the second inning after Brendan Slattery walked and Christian Santisteban singled. After Vin Teixeira bunted the two into scoring position, Murray notched consecutive strikeouts to get out of the jam.
Murray allowed just a one-out single to Slattery in the fourth and nothing else until the ninth. Jose Carrera got the Jaspers' rally started with a single through the hole into left field. Chris Kalousdian followed and reached on an error on the infield to bring the tying run to the plate in Andrew Gorecki.
Gorecki pulled a single through the hole into right field to score Carrera, making it a 3-1 game. That chased Murray from the game as Florida Gulf Coast closer Brady Anderson entered with runners on first and second base and nobody out.
Anderson got a fielder's choice for the first out, then finished the game with a ground ball double play to seal the 3-1 victory for Florida Gulf Coast.
Manhattan and Florida Gulf Coast will continue the four-game weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 8. Game one will start at 1 p.m.
NOTES:
Manhattan and Florida Gulf Coast also played a four-game series last season ... the three runs are the fewest the Manhattan staff has allowed in the first eight games ... the Jaspers turned two double plays in the first four innings ... Joey Rocchietti allowed just one walk and seven base hits in seven innings ... Casey Meyers tossed a hitless eighth inning in relief