Manhattan University Athletics

Game One: Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML)
Game Two: Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML) 

Wappingers Falls, NY - Manhattan bested Rider 12-2 before dropping an 8-4 decision in the nightcap in splitting a doubleheader at Dutchess Stadium.

The Jaspers are 19-19 and 8-3 in the MAAC while the Broncs are 10-22 and 5-5 in the league.

Game One
Fueled by a dominating offensive effort, Manhattan opened its series with Rider by posting a 12-2 victory.

The Jaspers rapped out 11 hits while drawing 12 walks and were plunked seven times as all nine regulars reached base safely.

Manhattan jumped all over Rider in the first inning, scoring five runs on four hits while sending 11 batters to the plate.

Graduate student Matt Forlow (Cold Spring, NY / Haldane) and junior Fabian Pena (Miami, FL / Calusa Prep) each drew four-pitch walks before junior Richie Barrella (Larchmont, NY / Canterbury Prep) opened the scoring with a run-scoring single through the right side. Freshman Matt Padre (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Pena for the second run of the game. Junior Brandon Valls (Miami, FL / Dean CC) and senior Michael Pfenninger (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) followed with RBI doubles before senior Brendan Bisset (New City, NY / Don Bosco Prep (NJ)) capped the scoring with a bases-loaded walk to force in the fifth run of the frame.

The Jaspers added to the lead with a run in the third inning as Bisset tripled with one out before scoring when Forlow singled through the left side.

In the top of the fourth, Manhattan added three more runs to its lead in jumping in front by a 9-0 count. Padre was plunked before Valls reached on an infield single. Pfenninger followed with a bunt single that the pitcher threw down the right field line, allowing Padre and Valls to score. Senior Adam Genners (Jacksonville, FL / Stanton College Prep) then brought around Pfenninger with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Rider finally got on the board in the top of the fifth as Christian Estevez tripled with one out before coming around to score on a Richie Tecco sacrifice bunt.

The Jaspers immediately answered with three runs Pfenninger and sophomore Alex Cerda (Miami, FL / Florida Christian Prep) delivered RBI singles before Pfenninger would later come around on a wild pitch.

Junior RHP Marc Galvan (Brielle, NJ / Manasquan) improved to 4-3 with the victory, yielding one run on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts over 7.0 innings of work.

Pfenninger went 3-for-4 with a double, three runs and two RBI while Valls was 2-for-2 with a double, three runs and two walks to lead the way on offense.

Mihalik went 2-for-4 with a double and a run to pace a seven-hit Bronc attack. 

Game Two
Rider took the nightcap by an 8-4 count thanks to rapping out 15 hits.

The Broncs opened the scoring in game two with a pair of first inning runs on a Brennan McAllister RBI single and a Tyler Stockwell sacrifice fly.

Manhattan immediately got those runs back in the bottom of the second as Bisset reached on an error before scoring on a Forlow RBI double. Pena would follow with a walk and come around to score on a Padre RBI single through the left side in tying it up at 2-2.

The Broncs struck for two more runs in the top of the second only to have the Jaspers battle back to again tie it up at 4-4 in the bottom part of the frame. Pfenninger walked on four pitches to lead off the inning before moving to third on a Cerda single. Genners followed with a RBI single through the left side and would come around to tie it up on a two-out, RBI triple off the bat of Forlow.

In the top of the third, Rider saw its first two batters reach safely and appeared poised to again strike but was denied by RHP Matt Simonetti (Manalapan, NJ / Manalapan). The graduate student induced a pop up on an errant bunt attempt and promptly fired to second to double up the lead runner before getting the next batter to evade trouble.

The Broncs reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth with an unearned run. Tyler Stockwell reached on a one-out error before coming around to score on Kyle Johnson's run-scoring triple.

Rider added to the lead with two more runs in the sixth in assuming a 7-4 lead.

In the bottom part of the frame, the Jaspers would threaten as Genners singled with one out before moving to third on a Bisset double. Unfortunately the pair were stranded in scoring position as reliever CJ Hirschy got the next two outs.

Jake Bender extended the Broncs' lead out to 8-4 with a bloop RBI single down the right side.

Manhattan would again put a pair of runners on the bases in the bottom of the seventh but would get no closer.

Forlow was 2-for-4 with a double, triple and two RBI while Bisset and Genners each added two hits to pace a 10-hit attack.

Despite not having his best stuff, Simonetti battled in yielding seven runs, five earned, with three strikeouts over 5.0 innings.

McAllister was 5-for-5 with four runs to lead the way for the visitors in the second game. LHP Pete Soporowski gave up three runs on nine hits over 5.1 innings in earning the victory with Hirschy notching the save.

The teams will conclude their three-game series with a single game tomorrow at 12:00 pm.