Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? The Manhattan College baseball team split its doubleheader at Siena (4-20, 1-5 MAAC) on Saturday falling 5-4 in game one, but rebounding with a 17-3 victory in the second contest. Junior designated hitter Anthony Armenio led Manhattan (11-8, 5-1 MAAC) with five RBI on the day, while freshman right-hander Mike Giordano won his third straight start on the hill.
The Saints pushed junior third baseman Anthony Giansanti across the plate in the bottom of the ninth on Eric Mruczek's walk-off sacrifice fly to edge Manhattan in game one. The loss marked the Jaspers' first in conference play this season and snapped a four game MAAC winning streak.
Armenio gave Manhattan a 2-0 lead in the opening frame with a two-out RBI double into right center. Outfielders Mark Onorati and Mike McCann both crossed the dish on the play.
The Saints retaliated in the bottom of the first beginning with Giansanti's lead off double, and then when Jason DeFilippo earned a base on balls, which set up Saints' first baseman Kevin Quaranto's equalizing two-RBI single.
Manhattan trailed 3-2 after Siena freshman Dan Paolini drove in Giansanti on a double down the left field line in the third. But the Jaspers got the run back and added an extra run in the top of the fourth courtesy of back-to-back RBI doubles from Kevin Nieto and Onorati.
Nieto recorded his seventh multi-hit game of the season and extended his recent hit streak to eight games by going 2-for-3 from the plate.
Siena tied the contest 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth with Nick Messigner's sacrifice fly, which set the stage for the Saints comeback victory.
In game two, the Jaspers erupted for 21 hits resulting in 17 runs en route to their fifth MAAC win of the season. McCann led Manhattan with four RBI in the ballgame and Armenio added three more increasing his season total to 32, a team-high.
Sophomore first baseman Austin Sheffield and junior catcher Jamie Fitzgerald also had nice outings at the plate each driving in two runs. Sheffield hit 4-for-6 with a triple and scored two runs, while Fitzgerald went 3-for-4 and also crossed the dish twice.
Will DeRuve, a freshman infielder, recorded his first multi-hit game of his young collegiate career batting 3-for-5. He scored a game-high three runs in the rout.
Nieto had two hits in the triumph, including his seventh double of the season. Sophomores Onorati and Chad Salem also recorded two hits apiece.
Giordano pitched six strong innings for the Jaspers giving up just two earned runs and striking out four batters. Freshman relievers Matt Troisi and Rob LaColla shut the door on the Saints by allowing just one hit over the final three innings.
Manhattan chased Siena sophomore starter Zach Hartman out of the game in the fourth inning as the squad jumped out to a 7-1 advantage. The Jaspers tagged on three runs in the sixth, four in the seventh and three in the ninth to run away with their second largest victory of the season.
The Jaspers return to Riverdale for their home opener on Wednesday versus Albany. Game time is slated for 3:30 p.m. at Van Cortlandt Park.
