Fishkill, N.Y.(May 24, 2007)- Senior shortstop Rene Ruiz went 3-for-4 with three runs scored to lead second-seeded Manhattan College (34-17) to a 6-2 victory over third-seeded Marist College (20-31) in game two of the 2007 Anaconda Sports MAAC Baseball Championship at Dutchess Stadium.
Manhattan got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning as Matt Rizzotti singled up the middle, bringing home Ruiz.
Marist then tied it up in the top of the fifth as Brian McDonough scored on a wild pitch by the Jaspers' Jesse Darcy. At the next at-bat, Travis Musolf reached first base on a throwing error by Darcy and advanced to second, while Matthew Lesyk successfully crossed home plate to give the Red Foxes a 2-1 lead.
Manhattan tied it up again in the bottom of the seventh with Ruiz crossing home plate as Mike Garcia was hit by a pitch by Mike Puckli. Puckli went on hit another batter, Nunzio Franzese, allowing Rizzotti to come home and put his squad up, 3-2. Ryan Masters then hit a two RBI single through the right side to bring in Mike Garcia and Nick Derba to give the Jaspers a 5-2 lead.
The Jaspers registered their final run of the night in the bottom of the eighth, with Ruiz scoring on a ground out double play by Derba.
Darcy claimed the win and improved to 9-3 with the victory. Puckli dropped his record to 0-5 on the mound.
Marist will play Canisius College in Game 3 on Friday, May 25, at 11:00 a.m. Game four between Manhattan and Le Moyne College is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow.