Manhattan University Athletics

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Riverdale, NY - Fueled by an impressive offensive performance in game two, Manhattan split a doubleheader with Niagara at VCP.

The Jaspers took the nightcap by a 15-8 count, after dropping the opener 8-5.

With the split, the Green & White is now 8-18 while the Purple Eagles are 16-11 and 17-11 in the MAAC.

Game Two
Manhattan registered season-highs with 15 runs and 18 hits, en route to posting a 15-8 come-from-behind win over Niagara.

Junior Sam Franco (Bardonia, NY / Clarkstown South) went 4-for-5 with a home run, double, three runs and three RBI, while senior Matt Padre (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) was 4-for-4 with a double, three runs, two RBI and a walk to pace an impressive Jasper offensive performance.

The Purple Eagles jumped out to a 4-0 lead, only to see the Green & White answer with five in its first trip to the plate.

With the game tied at 7-7 in the fifth, Manhattan finally grabbed control with three runs in taking the lead for good. Junior Jake Knop (Portland, ME / Portland) led off with a walk, before scoring on a Trevor Santos (Nutley, NJ / Nutley) RBI triple. Niagara appeared to escape further damage by getting the next two outs, but were unable to evade the bat of Franco, as he crushed a two-run shot to left field to make it a 10-7 game.

The Purple Eagles got one back in the top of the sixth, but nothing more as Manhattan added five more insurance runs over its final three trips to the plate in providing the final 15- 8 count.

Knop finished up 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI and two runs, while Santos added two hits, two runs and two RBI. Junior Lewi Clarke (Saratoga Springs, NY / Saratoga Springs) capped the multi-hit performers for the Jaspers, finishing up 2-for-5 with three RBI.

Sophomore RHP Justin Solimine (Danbury, CT / Danbury) earned his first collegiate win, striking out five while yielding two runs on eight hits and two walks over 7.0 innings.

Game One
The Purple Eagles jumped out to an early seven-run advantage, before holding off a late Jasper rally in registering an 8-5 win in the opener.

Niagara opened the scoring with six runs in its first two trips to the plate, before Manhattan dented the scoreboard in the bottom of the second.

Santos led off with a single, and would later come around to score on senior Jake Knop's (Portland, ME / Portland) RBI single to left field.

The Purple Eagles added to the lead with two runs in the top of the fourth inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Jaspers made things interesting in scoring four runs, but the deficit was too much.

Barditch, Cimillo, Knop and Padre each finished with two hits to lead the way on offense.

Sophomore LHP Ryan Doherty (Hamden, CT / Hamden Hall) was solid in relief, striking out three over 3.1 innings of five-hit relief.

Manhattan will next be in action on Saturday, May 9 at Marist with first pitch tabbed for 12:00 pm.