TEANECK, NJ — Playing its final game at temporary home field Naimoli Family Baseball Complex, the Jaspers lost to Iona by the mercy rule, 18-8.
HOW IT HAPPENED
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On the first pitch of the game, starting pitcher Brad Grasser induced a groundout back to the mound from Damian Rodriguez, setting him up for a 15-pitch scoreless first frame.
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With two outs in the bottom of the first, right fielder Aidan Taclas was hit by a pitch, and then stole second with Ryan Lordier at the plate. The Jaspers' threat was terminated on a groundout to second from Lordier.
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Grasser stayed efficient on the mound in the second, working a 1-2-3 inning on seven pitches.
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Andreaus Lewis and Colin Basehore started off the bottom of the second with singles and Lewis stopped at second. Sute proceeded to walk, setting the stage for a sacrifice fly from Mayer which scored Lewis.
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Then, Trevor Hansen wasted no time driving home Basehore from third on a long RBI double off the left field wall.
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In the third, Grasser continued his hot start, getting two outs on two pitches before getting his second strikeout to end the frame.
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Iona got on the board in the fourth thanks to a trio of throwing errors from the Jaspers. Manhattan led 3-1 after four.
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Iona would break the game open in fifth, hanging an eight-spot on the Jaspers and ending Grasser's day. The big blast came on a grand slam from Iona first baseman James Kemp.
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With Braedon Romero taking over on the bump, Iona's next four batters all reached, pushing four more runs across the board for Iona. The Gaels left their mark, leading 9-3 after five innings.
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Two more home runs from Iona in the seventh stretched the lead to 12-3. First, Iona's Sean Stephenson went deep with a solo shot on Romero. Later in the inning, the lead-off hitter Damian Rodriguez launched a two-run homer off relief pitcher Chris Fidanza.
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Manhattan's offense woke up in the bottom of the seventh, mustering three runs on an RBI groundout from Aidan Katzman, an RBI single from Taclas and a sacrifice fly from Lordier.
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Iona's offense, however, would keep its foot on the gas by manufacturing six more runs in the eighth on five hits, two walks and two hit batters.
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Hansen's third hit of the day in the eighth came in the form of a two-run shot.
STATS AND NOTES
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The Jaspers' eight runs came on 10 hits.
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Aidan Taclas and Colin Basehore each recorded two hits and Trevor Hansen delivered three to lead the Jaspers.
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Hansen hit his fourth home run of the season.
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Grasser was assigned the loss following his 4.1 innings of work.
NEXT UP
Manhattan (11-19, 6-9 MAAC) will play its first game of the season at home park Clover Stadium on Tuesday when it plays host to Long Island University (15-16, 9-3 NEC).
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