LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Manhattan dropped the first game of a weekend series to Rider, 6-4 on Friday. The Broncs used a three-run second inning to gain an early lead over the Jaspers.
Rider (19-16, 7-3 MAAC) added runs in the fifth and sixth innings before the Jaspers could cut the deficit.
In the top of the eighth inning, Dolan Ocasal singled to center field, scoring
Jack Lynch for Manhattan (16-18, 6-7). Trevor Stantos followed that with an RBI single down the right-field line.
Harrison Treble added one more run, off a fielder's choice to make it a 6-3 game.
In the top of the seventh, Ocasal secured his first RBI for the day. The senior singled through the right field side to bring home Lynch.
Ocasal went 3-for-4, with two RBIs for the Jaspers. Lynch scored two runs for Manhattan and went 2-for-4.
Will Hesslink started for the Jaspers and went five innings, allowing six runs and striking out four. Tyler Fagler pitched the final three innings for the Jaspers, striking out three.
The two sides square off again at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday in Lawrenceville for game two of the three-part series.
