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Wappingers Falls, NY - Senior
Michael Pfenninger's (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) RBI single down the right field line lifted Manhattan to a 2-1 walk-off win over Canisius in the series opener between the teams at Dutchess Stadium.
Pfenninger's walk-off single plated junior
Richie Barrella (Larchmont, NY / Canterbury Prep), who sparked the ninth-inning rally with a one-out single.
The Jaspers improve to 23-25 and 11-8 in the MAAC while the Golden Griffins fall to 27-19 and 12-7 in the league.
Canisius appeared poised to dent the scoreboard in the top of the first as Gage Lanning crushed an apparent three-run triple to left center. However, LHP
Joe Jacques (Shrewsbury, NJ / Red Bank Regional) appealed to first and Lanning was ruled out after missing first base with all three runs being wiped off the board.
Manhattan then threatened in its first trip to the plate as
Matt Forlow (GS, Cold Spring, NY / Haldane) laced a one-out double before moving to third on a Barrella two-out, infield single. However, LHP J.P. Stevenson hunkered down and struck out the next batter he faced for the final out.
The game would remain scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Jaspers finally broke through. Senior
Brandon Valls (Miami, FL / Dean CC) led off with a two-strike single before moving to third on a walk and a sacrifice bunt. Valls would then come around to score on a wild pitch.
In the top of the sixth, the Golden Griffins would quickly get that run back on Ryan Stekl's team-leading 10th home run.
Jacques finished out the frame and yielded just one run on two hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 6.0 innings.
Barrella led off the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff triple but would be left stranded 90 feet from the plate.
The visitors then mounted their final scoring threat in the top of the ninth inning as Christ Conley was plunked leading off the frame. Pinch-runner John Conti then took second on a sacrifice before swiping third with one out. However, junior RHP
Logan Muratalla (San Dimas, CA / Mt. San Antonio) would strand him thanks to recording a strikeout and an inning-ending grounder.
In the bottom of the ninth, Barrella recorded his third hit of the game with a one-out single through the left side before freshman
Matt Padre (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) singled to center field. Valls then drew a walk to load up the bases while setting the stage for Pfenninger's heroics.
Manhattan outhit Canisius by a 7-3 count and was led on offense by Barrella, who went 3-for-4 with a run, and Pfenninger, who reached safely three times.
Despite earning a no-decision, Stevenson was outstanding for the Golden Griffins, striking out seven while surrendering one run on four hits and a walk over 7.0 innings.
Muratalla improved to 2-0, striking out four while yielding just one hit over 3.0 innings.
Game two was postponed until tomorrow as the teams will conclude their series with a 12:00 pm doubleheader with Senior Day festivities to start at 11:35 am.
