LORMAN, MS – The Manhattan Jaspers baseball team (1-3, 0-0 MAAC) powered its way past the Braves of Alcorn State University (0-2, 0-0 SWAC) by a score of 8-2 inside McGowan Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
The win clinched the first victory for Interim Head Coach Steven Rosen—one of the youngest coaches in Division I baseball today.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Jaspers opened with a Ryan Lordier single into right field, eventually scoring a run for the Junior. Lordier's teammate, Aidan Taclas, hammered a double down the right-field line to bring in the JUCO transfer to open the scoring, and Manhattan never once looked back.
- Later in the game, junior catcher Hunter Sute sent a two-out triple down the right-field line to drive home Trevor Hansen. Dylan Mayer then brought him Sute to give the Jaspers two additional insurance tallies.
- Alcorn State rallied back with a pinch-hit double before a fly-out to left field halted any momentum built by the Braves.
- In the top of the seventh inning, Tyler Galletti brought home Lordier from third, following an infield error by Alcorn State, which moved Lordier from second to third.
- Then, Colin Basehore drove home Aidan Taclas, who had advanced to second on the infield error a play before.
- Manhattan didn't have enough, as three more runs were tacked on in the top half of the ninth inning, highlighted by Ryan Ash's single into left field to drive in Hansen, followed by Sute's RBI single into center, and capped off with a Basehore scoring on a wild pitch by the opposing pitcher.
STATS AND NOTES
- Manhattan swiped seven bases in the game and was caught twice along the basepath. The seven swipes by the Jaspers were the second most in the MAAC this year. The most came from Mount St. Mary's against the NEC's Norfolk State team on February 14, 2025.
- Freshman right-handed pitcher Preston Hamm recorded his first victory of 2025 by holding Alcorn State to three hits and punching out three in four innings of work.
- Chris Fidanza followed up with a pair of strikeouts in nine batters faced throughout two innings on the hill.
- Junior right-handed pitcher Trey Packen logged a game-high five strikeouts in two innings, also facing just nine batters.
- Nate Ryhlick pitched the ninth inning and got in and out of a jam, eventually logging three strikeouts to give the Jaspers and Steven Rosen their first victory of the season and of their careers, respectively.
QUOTES FROM THE JASPERS
Head Coach Steven Rosen on the performance: "Not our cleanest game today, but certainly good to get the first win of the season. A lot of work to do - but proud of the guys effort. Preston Tamm set the tone for the day with his start - and each pitcher who came in after pounded the strike zone behind him. Good day to build on."
Rosen on First NCAA victory as Interim Head Coach: "It's a great feeling, mostly reflecting on all the great coaches, and my parents & family who have helped make an opportunity like this possible."
NEXT UP:
Manhattan returns to action on Friday, February 21, when the Jaspers open a three-game series at Charleston Southern, beginning at 2 p.m.
