Manhattan University Athletics

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WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. - Manhattan overcame a four-run deficit in posting a thrilling 6-5 win over Quinnipiac in the series finale between the teams at Dutchess Stadium.

Trailing 5-1 in the sixth, the Jaspers plated a pair of runs before completing their comeback with three runs in the seventh en route to recording a 6-5 win over the Bobcats.

Manhattan improved to 9-21 and 5-7 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) while Quinnipiac fell to 13-17 and 8-4 in the league.

The Jaspers went 5-for-7 (.714) with runners in scoring postion after going just 4-for-23 over the first two games of the weekend in avenging Saturday's doubleheader loss to the Bobcats.

For the third-straight game, Quinnipiac dented the scoreboard in the opening frame. Mike Palladino was plunked leading off the game before Scott Donague singled through the left side. The pair then stole second-and-third with Palladino coming around to score on a Matthew Batten RBI ground out. Vincent Guglietti then picked up Donaghue with a RBI single in extending the Bobcat lead to 2-0.

Senior Michael Scarinci (Nanuet, N.Y. / Pearl River) settled down after a rough first inning and faced just one over the minimum over the next three frames.

Bobcat starter LHP Justin Thomas was equally impressive and retired 11 of the first 12 batters he faced before Manhattan got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out rally. Senior Chris Kalousdian (Fort Salonga, N.Y. / Kings Park) doubled over the centerfielder's head before classmate Vin Teixeira (Hamden, Conn. / Hamden Hall Country Day) laced a 3-1 offering to open the scoring for the Jaspers.  

QU immediately answered with three runs in the top of the fifth while chasing Scarinci from the game. Ben Gibson led off with a single before moving to third on a wild pitch and an error before coming around to score on a Julius Saporito RBI single. Saparito then moved to third on a Palladino double as Quinnipiac appeared primed to put the game away. Sophomore RHP Shawn Kanwisher (Washington Township, N.J. / St. Joseph Regional) entered and promptly struck out the first batter he saw. Unfortunately, Batten plated Saparito on the ensuing at-bat with a safety squeeze before Palladino scored on an errant throw to first in giving the Bobcats a 5-1 lead.

Manhattan got two runs back in the bottom of the sixth while chasing Thomas from the game. Kalousdian led off with a bunt single before stealing second and moving to third on McClennan's second single of the game. Santisteban plated Kalousidan with a deep sacrifice fly to right field before McClennan swiped second. Teixeira then delivered a double to left field to cut the deficit to 5-3 while forcing the Bobcats to the bullpen.

The Jaspers kept attacking and made their big move in the bottom of the seventh. Senior Mikey Miranda (Miami, Fla. / Florida Christian) lined a one-out single before freshman Michael Pfenninger (Flemington, N.J. / Flemington) drew a walk. Kalousdian followed with shot to right center, plating both runners while tying the game at 5-5 before taking third on the throw home. Junior Chris Reynolds (Wall, N.J. / St. Rose) followed by giving Manhattan its first lead of the weekend with a line-drive single to center field that plated Kalousdian.

In the top of the eighth, Quinnipiac loaded the bases with one out only to be denied when sophomore RHP Matt Simonetti (Manalapan, N.J. / Manalapan) retired the next batter via a strikeout before inducing an inning-ending pop up.

Simonetti then recorded a perfect ninth inning in notching his second save of the season.

Kalousdian went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs en route to hitting a team-best .538 (7-for-13) on the weekend to pace a 10-hit Manhattan attack. Teixeira also went 2-for-4 with two RBI while Santisteban was 2-for-3 with a run and a RBI to round out the top offensive performers for the Jaspers.

Kanwisher (1-0) earned his first win of the year, striking out two over 3.0 scoreless innings while Simonetti completed the comeback with 2.0 innings of one-hit relief.

Guglietti was 3-for-4 while Palladino went 2-for-4 with two runs and a double to lead the way for the visitors.

Manhattan returns to action at Army on Tuesday, April 14 with first pitch slated for 6:30 p.m..