GAME 2 BOXSCORE
Riverdale, NY (May 18, 2004)- Manhattan dropped both ends of a non-conference twin bill to Pace University today at Van Cortlandt Park in the final regular season non-conference matchup for the Jaspers. Pace took game 1, 7-5, before posting a 5-3 win on the nightcap. Manhattan is now 20-25-1 on the season.
In the first game, after three scoreless innings, Pace (16-30-1) plated four runs, all with two out, to take a 4-0 lead. Mike Pahira singled home the first run, and, after a walk loaded the bases, Sunil Brijlall cleared the bases with a double to center.
The Jaspers got one back in the bottom of the fourth as Chris Gaskin scored on a throwing error by the Pace shortstop on a ball off the bat of John Fitzpatrick.
The Setters regained the four-run edge in the top of the fifth on Mike Farrauto's RBI single, but once again Manhattan answered, plating two runs in the bottom of the inning on a Matt Cucurullo two-RBI single, driving home Frank Cappello and Gary Diaz to make the score 5-3 in favor of Pace.
Pace once again extended the lead to four in the top of the sixth, scoring two runs on a throwing error by the Manhattan shortstop, but the Jaspers would not go quietly, scoring twice, the first on a bases loaded walk to Nick Derba, and the second on a RBI groundout by Cappello, plating Sylvester Gutierrez.
Earl Oakes gave up Cappello's RBI groundout, but retired the next three batters to get out of the inning, and allowed a one out walk in the seventh to earn his first save of the year. Steve MacFarland (2-3) allowed three earned runs over five innings for the win. Kyle Wirtz (1-3) went 5.1 innings on the loss.
The second game was a pitchers duel through five innings, with Pace starter Jared Monti allowing two hits but facing the minimum, while Manhattan starter Ken Gleason allowed no hits and just one walk through five. In the sixth, both teams broke into the scoring column, scoring all the games runs.
Matt Pisseri began the Pace sixth by breaking up Gleason's no-hit bid with a single to right center that just eluded the glove of Fitzpatrick, the Jasper right fielder. The Setter then loaded the bases with none out before Matt McNichol connected on a grand slam to left to give Pace a 4-0 lead. Later in the inning, Matt Castellano doubled home Doug Hehner to increase the lead to 5-0.
Manhattan would respond in the bottom of the innings, plating three runs on four hits. With the bases loaded and two out, Sam Deluca came through with a two-RBI single, chasing home John Maser and Gutierrez, before Gaskin followed with a single, driving in Gary Diaz to make the score 5-3, but the Jaspers could get no closer.
Oakes again came out of the bullpen, this time to record the final out of the game with two runners on to record his second save of the day. Monti (1-0) allowed no runs over five innings for the win. Gleason (1-2) went six innings, allowing three earned runs.
Manhattan begins a crucial MAAC series with Fairfield on Thursday, May 20 at Van Cortlandt Park with a double header slated to begin at 12 noon.
