Box Score (PDF)
Wappingers Falls, NY - Freshman
Sam Franco (Bardonia, NY / Clarkstown South) rapped out a career-high three hits, but it wasn't enough as Manhattan dropped a 6-4 decision to LIU Brooklyn in non-conference action at Dutchess Stadium.
The Jaspers fall to 14-22 while the Blackbirds improve to 13-20.
LIU Brooklyn opened the scoring with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second inning.
Manhattan threatened in the bottom part of the frame as junior
Alex Cerda (Miami, FL / Florida Christian School) and sophomore
Jake Knop (Portland, ME / Portland) each singled, but were left stranded.
The Jaspers finally broke through with a run in the third inning as Franco doubled with one out, before stealing third and taking home on a throwing error.
Unfortunately, the Blackbirds got that run back in their next trip to the plate, before adding three runs in the top of the fifth in jumping in front by a 6-1 count.
Manhattan plated a pair of runs in the sixth inning with a two-out rally. Knop tripled before freshman
Jonathan Barditch (Miami, FL / Belen Jesuit Prep) and sophomore
Matt Padre (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) walked to load up the bases. Franco followed with his third hit of the game, a two-run single to center field to trim it to 6-3.
The Jaspers then got one more back in the seventh inning with another two-out rally, as Knop smoked a single up the middle on the first pitch he saw to plate Cerda.
Manhattan would threaten in each of its final two trips to the plate, including leaving the bases loaded in the ninth.
Franco finished up 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI, a run and a stolen base while Knop also went 3-for-5 with a triple, run and RBI to pace a 14-hit attack for the Jaspers. Rounding out the multi-hit performerse for Manhattan was Cerda and
Keury Abreu (Bronx, NY / St. Raymond) as seven different Jaspers hit safely.
Sophomore
Teddy Sabato (Rye Brook, NY / UNC) led nine Manhattan pitchers on the day, striking out the side in an impressive inning of work.
Seven different LIU Brooklyn batters hit safely while RHP Chris Buehler (2-0) earned the win, yielding one run on six hits with three strikeouts over 5.0 innings.
Manhattan will host Marist on Friday, April 19 at 3:00 pm.
