BRONX, N.Y. - Behind a combined five home runs from Trevor Hansen and Vincent Davis and an impressive 6.0 innings from Greg Shaw, the Manhattan Jaspers baseball team bested the Iona Gaels in a 14-4 victory Friday evening at Houlihan Park.
Manhattan (10-21, 4-6) snapped a four-game losing streak with the win, while Iona (4-26, 0-10) extended its losing streak to 13 games.
Brendan Callanan nearly cleared the side for Iona before hitting Drew Wyers with a pitch in the first frame of play. The sophomore then stole second and later scored on a left center single from Chase Swain to lift Manhattan to a 1-0 start. The Jaspers held on to that lead until an error- riddled third gave the foe three runs to come out on top.
Shaw took control from the mound and blanked Iona through four-straight innings. The sophomore's lone allowance came in the eighth, hitting Nick Forney who later scored after advancing on a single, wild pitch, and ground out. Shaw (1-1, 2 SV) picked up his first win, finishing a career-best 6.0 innings, allowing one run on five hits and no walks to go along with a career-high seven strikeouts.
Trailing 3-1, Hansen blasted a two-run homer in the fourth to knot the game and Davis mirrored the shot in the next frame to go ahead 5-3. Manhattan continued their offensive barrage with five runs on five hits in the sixth inning, initiated by a solo shot from Hansen. A pair of singles and a sac fly pushed another run across before Davis found the fence again, this time a three-run thump to right center. Manhattan sealed the deal with four more runs in the eighth inning, capitalizing on three unearned runs and Hansen's third homer of the game, a solo shot to right-center field.
Davis finished the game 4-for-5 with an impressive 6 RBI and two homers, while Hansen's 3-for-5 performance marked a career-best for homers in a single game. Justin Hatch also contributed with a pair of hits, with all but one Jasper recording a hit against the Gaels
Davis finished 4-for-5 with a banner 6RBI and two homers. Hansen's 3-for-5 performance logged a career-best for homers in a single game. Justin Hatch also tallied a pair of hits while all but one Jasper snagged a hit against the Gaels.
Manhattan and Iona will return to the field tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. and wrap up the series Sunday at noon. Game coverage will be available on gojaspers.com, Twitter, and Instagram - @JaspersBaseball.