New Rochelle, NY (April 17, 2005)- Josh Santerre went eight innings, allowing no earned runs, and John Fitzpatrick belted a grand slam to help lead Manhattan to a 6-3 win this afternoon at Salesian Field. Kyle Wirtz picked up his first save of the season. The Jaspers win the series with the Gaels and improve to 12-11, 5-3 in MAAC play.
Manhattan loaded the bases with one out in the top of the third on a hit batsman, a double, and a single before Fitzpatrick cleared the bases with a long home run to left to give the Jaspers a 4-0 lead. Marc Giordano followed with a walk and was brought around when Nunzio Franzese doubled to the right centerfield gap to increase the lead to 5-0.
Iona would tally two unearned runs in the bottom of the inning to trim the lead to 5-2, but Santerre would not allow the Gaels to get back into the game until Iona put together a rally in the bottom of the eighth.
In the meantime, back-to-back doubles to lead off the sixth by Dom Lombardi and Gary Diaz increased the lead to 6-2.
Iona loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth, but Santerre induced the next batter to line into a double play, and though the Gaels would push across an unearned run later in the inning, the Jaspers were able to close out the win. Wirtz hurled a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.
Santerre scattered nine hits over eight innings to even his record at 2-2.
Manhattan returns to action on Tuesday, April 19, when the Jaspers travel to Bridgeport, CT to take on Sacred Heart at Bluefish Stadium. The first pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.