Manhattan University Athletics

New Rochelle, N.Y. (April 6, 2007)- Manhattan took advantage of six Iona errors, scoring 12 unearned runs to sweep its MAAC twin bill with the Gaels, 7-2 and 12-0, this afternoon at Salesian Field.  The Jaspers scored seven times in the final two innings to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the opener, and senior Josh Santerre extended his scoreless innings streak to 17 innings with his second, consecutive, complete game, three-hit, no earned run performance in a 12-0 final.  Manhattan improves to 14-11, 8-0 in MAAC play, as the Jaspers continue their best ever start to conference play.

In the opener, Iona scored an unearned run in the first and its second in the sixth on a sacrifice fly, and took a 2-0 lead into the eighth.

Jesse Darcy worked the first seven innings for Manhattan, and looked to be the hard luck loser, despite having a productive outing, as Gael pitching allowed just three hits over the first seven innings.

The Jasper bats would change the senior's demeanor in the top of the eighth, turning a walk and two singles into five runs, as Iona committed four errors (along with a passed ball), putting Darcy as the pitcher of record on the winning end.

Brian Pendergast come out of the pen in the eighth to relieve Darcy, as the long inning, the lead, and the cold day ended the Levittown, N.Y. native's day.  Pendergast allowed a leadoff single, but after a lineout, induced a double play ground ball to end the inning.

Mike Garcia laced a single through the left side in the top of the ninth to plate Nick Derba and Matt Rizzotti and make the score 7-2, and, after allowing a leadoff single in the ninth, Pendergast struck out the next three batters to close out his third save of the season.

In the nightcap, Santerre allowed just three hits, all singles, and tallied seven of the game's final 12 outs via strikeout to post his fourth win of the season.  The senior did not walk a batter on the day

Manhattan scored the only run it would need in the top of the second as Garcia walked with one out, and came around to score on a long double by Ryan Masters.  Ruben Perez led off the fourth with a solo homer to straightaway center field, and Rizzotti would drive in Kevin Nieto with a sacrifice fly in the fifth to increase the lead to 3-0.

The Jaspers put the game out of reach in the sixth, scoring eight runs on five hits and two Iona errors.  Masters tallied his second RBI double of the game to drive in the first run of the inning, and singled later in the inning to bring home the eighth run.  Eric Nieto tallied an RBI single, and Rizzotti connected on an RBI double to provide the run-scoring hits of the inning.

Senior Joe Fitzpatrick hit a sharp single through the left side in the ninth, scoring Rene Ruiz, to provide the final margin.

The two local and MAAC rivals conclude the MAAC series tomorrow, Saturday, April 7, with a single, nine-inning game.  First pitch is slated for 12 noon.