Manhattan Splits Doubleheader With Monmouth - Manhattan University Athletics

Game Two: Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF)
Game One: Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF)
Coach Duffy's Postgame Thoughts | Brown's Game-Winning Hit

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Manhattan split a doubleheader with Monmouth at the MU Baseball Field. The Jaspers won the second game by a 4-2 count in 11 innings after dropping a 3-2 decision in the opener.

Click HERE to hear Jim Duffy's thoughts on the win.

With the split, the Jaspers improve to 6-16 and 3-3 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) while the Hawks move to 5-12 and 2-1 in the league with the series victory.

Game Two

Sophomore Evan Brown's (Ashburnham, Mass. / Bridgton Academy (ME))) crushed this two-out, two-run double in the top of the 11th to plate senior Chris Kalousdian (Fort Salonga, N.Y. / Kings Park) and junior Chris Reynolds (Wall, N.J. / St. Rose) with what would prove to be the winning runs in Manhattan's thrilling 4-2 win over Monmouth.

The extra-inning affair was the third between the teams over their last four games dating back to last season.

The Hawks scored in the opening frame for the second-straight game as Shaine Hughes plated Steve Wilgus with a RBI single. However the damage could have been worse but senior RHP Scott McClennan (Highland Mills, N.Y. / Cornwall Central) evaded further damage while working around a first-and-third, no-out situation.

After the first runner in the top of the second reached via error, McClennan settled down and retired the next 14 batters he faced.

After being stymied over the first four innings, the Jaspers took their first lead of the game with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. After senior Joe McClennan (Highland Mills, N.Y. / Cornwall Central) reached via an error, sophomore Jason Patnick (Hopewell, N.J. / IMG Academy (Fla.)) laced a single to left field. Freshman Michael Pfenninger (Flemington, N.J. / Hunterdon Central) moved the pair to second-and-third with a sacrifice bunt. Freshman Adam Genners (Jacksonville, Fla. / Stanton College Prep) then plated Joe McClennan with a safety squeeze. Patnick would then come around to score and give Manhattan a 2-1 lead thanks to yet another sacrifice bunt, this one off the bat of Kalousdian.

Monmouth would threaten with a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth as the Hawks loaded the bases with two outs before Scott McClennan induced an inning-ending ground out.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Hawks tied the game as Chris Gaetano's RBI single plated Kyle Perry. However, the damage could have been worse as Scott McClennan stranded a pair of runners in scoring position.

One inning later, Monmouth would again leave a runner in scoring position as Scott McClennan exited following a 9.0-inning performance that yielded seven strikeouts. He allowed just two runs, one earned, on six hits in earning the no-decision.

Junior LHP Casey Meyers (Brookside, N.J. / Mendham), who was the beneficiary of Brown's big hit, relieved McClennan and fired 2.0 hitless innings with three strikeouts to earn his first collegiate win.

Patnick went 3-for-4 while Kalousdian was 2-for-4 to pace an eight-hit Jasper attack.

Frank Trimarco (1-3) was saddled with the loss for the Hawks while Perry and Gaetano each recorded a pair of hits.

Game 1

T.J. Hunt fired a complete game three-hitter to lead Monmouth over Manhattan 3-2 in the first game of today's doubleheader.

The Hawks opened the scoring with a two-out rally in the bottom of the first. After senior RHP Michael Scarinci (Pearl River, N.Y. / Pearl River) easily got the first two outs, Shaine Hughes hit a double to left center before Gaetano followed with a two-run homer to right field.

Manhattan immediately got those two runs back in the top of the second. Senior Mikey Miranda (Miami, Fla. / Florida Christian) led off with a walk before senior Vin Teixeira (Hamden, Conn. / Hamden Hall Country Day) worked back from a two-strike count to record a single to center field. Brown then moved the pair to second-and-third with a successful sacrifice. Joe McClennan followed with a run-scoring single through the left side to plate Miranda while pushing Teixeira to third. Pfenninger then hit the first pitch he saw to center to chase home Teixeira while tying the game up at 2-2.

The Hawks would get the leadoff man aboard in each of the next four innings before finally taking advantage in the fifth. Robbie Alessandrine opened with a walk before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. Perry then followed with a run-scoring double while chasing Scarinci from the game. The damage could have been worse though as sophomore LHP Joe Jacques (Shrewsbury, N.J. / Red Bank Regional) got the final two outs while leaving a pair on the bases.

The Jaspers appeared poised to tie the game in the top of the sixth. Reynolds led off with his third walk of the game before swiping second with one out. After moving to third on a ground out he was left stranded as Hunt inducing an inning-ending grounder back to the mound.

Manhattan was set down in order in its final trip to the plate as Hunt capped an 87-pitch outing with a pair of strikeouts. For the game, the righty allowed two runs on three hits and four walks over 7.0 innings.

Scarinci (2-4) allowed three runs on five hits over 4.1 innings in suffering the loss.

Monmouth, which outhit the Jaspers 7-3, was led by Gaetano, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.

The Jaspers return to action at Rutgers on Tuesday, March 31 with first pitch slated for 3 p.m.