RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan baseball team dropped two games to Canisius (34-16, 16-2 MAAC) on Sunday falling 10-8 and then 4-0 in the doubleheader in Buffalo. Jaspers' senior outfielder Kevin Nieto drove in three runs and smashed his sixth home run in game one. Golden Griffs' game two starter Mike Goemans pitched a one hit shutout with five strikeouts.
In game one, Manhattan (25-16, 10-8 MAAC) jumped out to a two run lead in the opening frame courtesy of RBIs from juniors Mike McCann and Austin Sheffield. The Jaspers relinquished their lead quickly as Canisius erupted for six runs in the bottom of the first inning. Golden Griffs' second baseman Steve McQuail began his 5-for-8 day at the plate with a RBI single to get Canisius on the board. The Golden Griffs got two more runs in the second inning from Brian Burton's homer off Jaspers' starter Tom Costigan to take a 8-2 advantage.
Nieto pulled the Jaspers' within 8-5 in the fourth inning blasting a three-run shot which exited left field. He scored two runs in the ballgame batting in the lead off spot.
Canisius got two runs back in the fifth inning when McQuail, who is having a career year, smacked his 17th home run. The two-run homer extended his MAAC leading RBI total to 71.
Facing a 10-5 deficit, Manhattan went on a three-run surge in the last frame, before Canisius starter Shane Davis shut the door on the comeback. The inning featured RBIs from Sheffield and red-shirt freshman catcher Ramon Ortega. Davis earned his seventh win of the season, while Costigan moved to 5-3.
In game two, the Jaspers had trouble figuring out Goemans who was rolling on the hill. He retired 27 of 29 batters faced, yielding a base hit to Sheffield and a walk to Nieto. Manhattan starter Eric Luksis was efficient dealing eight innings with three strikeouts.
The Golden Griffs pieced together their four runs off Luksis scoring in the fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth innings. In the fourth, outfielder Ian Choy scored on a wild pitch, and then in the fifth fellow outfielder Perry Silverman drove in another run with a single through the left side.
Burton put Canisius ahead 3-0 with his sixth inning sacrifice fly. In the eighth, catcher Paul Panik received credit for the final run with a bases loaded fielder's choice.
Manhattan returns to action on Tuesday when the Jaspers travel to #21 Connecticut. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at J.O. Christian Field in Storrs, Conn.