Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan baseball team battled back from a five run deficit by scoring seven runs in the sixth inning to propel the Jaspers to an 8-5 victory at Albany on Wednesday. Sophomore shortstop Yoandry Galan hit 3-for-4 and drove in two runs to help lift Manhattan (20-20) to its 16th win in the last 19 games.
Jaspers' senior left hander Matt Jordan earned his first victory of the year pitching two strong innings out of the bullpen in relief of starter Sean Abbate. Reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week Michael Scarinci closed the contest for his first career save.
Albany (12-26-1) tacked on all five of its runs by the fifth inning. The Great Danes got on the board in the second inning when freshman shortstop Gordon Madej delivered the RBI single through the left side that broke the scoreless tie. In the fourth inning, Albany worked Abbate for three runs on two hits with Madej posting his second RBI on a sacrifice fly. A solo home run by senior right fielder Peter DiResta opened a 5-0 lead for Albany in the fifth inning.
Manhattan finally got to Great Danes' starting pitcher Joey Moore by the sixth inning and poured on seven runs. The Jaspers hit through the line up once, while Albany called on three relief pitchers before the Great Danes recorded the first out of the inning. Galan got the rally going with a lead off single and he finished it off with a RBI single that capped the surge to put Manhattan ahead 7-5. Jaspers' junior third baseman Kyle Murphy posted his team-leading 15th extra base hit of the season, a RBI triple in the inning. Manhattan scored the other five runs on four walks, two hit batters and one error.
Galan had his third hit of the contest in the eighth inning when he added to the Jaspers lead with a RBI single down the right field line. It expanded Manhattan's advantage to 8-5. Jaspers' freshman second baseman Joe McClennan matched Galan with his second straight three hit performance. McClennan has gone 6-for-7 from the plate in his last two appearances.
Manhattan freshman reliever Joe Mortillaro pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen and recorded two strikeouts. Great Danes' reliever Mike Baltera was on record for the loss falling to 0-2 on the year.
The Jaspers look forward to their weekend series at TCU. Manhattan will travel to Fort Worth, Texas to square off with the Horned Frogs in a three game set that begins on Friday at 7:30 p.m. eastern. Live video and audio of the series will be available through the TCU Athletics website GoFrogs.com.
