Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? Manhattan overcame a three run ninth inning deficit and walked off with an 8-7 victory over Fairfield (15-18, 5-7 MAAC) on Sunday at Van Cortlandt Park in MAAC baseball action. Jaspers' junior designated hitter Anthony Armenio delivered a clutch RBI single with two outs and the bases loaded to send the game winning run across the plate in thrilling fashion. The win completes a three game series sweep of the Stags and keeps the Jaspers 20-game home winning streak alive.
“This was a nice win for us,” stated fourth year Manhattan head coach Kevin Leighton. “Our guys kept battling and never quit.”
Manhattan (24-10, 11-1 MAAC) trailed 7-4 as it began the comeback bid in the final frame. Austin Sheffield got the four-run rally started with a single into right field, and then moved into scoring position on a fielding error. Junior catcher Jamie Fitzgerald followed with a single of his own and senior shortstop Ryan Masters walked to load up the bases for Mike McCann. McCann took advantage of the prime opportunity as he laced the ball into right field. Sheffield and Fitzgerald crossed the plate on the single and Masters raced to third base to represent the game tying run.
Sophomore outfielder Mark Onorati got Masters across the plate soon thereafter by putting a hard hit ball in play which evened the game at 7-7. After an intentional walk for centerfield Kevin Nieto and an unintentional walk for Chad Salem, Fairfield reliever Justin Servino found himself in a predicament with the bases loaded again, but this time with Armenio stepping into the batters box. Armenio was able to land a pop fly in shallow right field to send the Jaspers off with their second walk off win in as many days.
McCann improved his league leading batting average (.437) by hitting 3-for-4 in the contest. Sheffield and Fitzgerald were the other two Jaspers to record multi-hit games.
Matt Tiagwad put Fairfield on the scoreboard first with a two-run homer in the second, but Manhattan quickly evened the score at 2-2 in the bottom half of the inning. Sheffield doubled to left center, and then Fitzgerald drove him in with another double. Onorati added the third and final hit of the inning which was an RBI single.
Fitzgerald and Onorati each posted two RBI in the ballgame.
The Stags added an unearned run in the sixth, an inning which was prolonged by a fielding error, and three more in the seventh on three hits and three errors to take a 6-2 edge. Manhattan starting pitcher Matt Jordan lasted six and two third innings, notched four strikeouts and allowed four earned runs. He turned the ball over to junior reliever Tom Costigan who earned his third win of the year after tossing two and one third strong innings. Costigan struck out five batters and limited Fairfield to just two hits.
Senior second baseman Ruben Perez and Fitzgerald knocked in a pair of runs in the seventh to reduce the Jaspers' disadvantage to 6-4. Fairfield worked one run off Costigan in the eighth inning before the Jaspers comeback charge evolved.
Stags' relief pitcher Justin Servino received his first loss of the season. He threw the final two innings and let in four runs on six hits, three walks and one error. Fairfield starter Scott Gussaroff, a junior from Lloyd Harbor, N.Y., propelled his team through six and one third innings. He allowed six hits and four runs during this span.
Manhattan brings its five game win streak to Columbia on Wednesday for a doubleheader with the Lions. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
