Baltimore, Md. (March 11, 2006)- Manhattan scored five early runs, and
Matt Nevins kept the opposing batters off balance in his first start of the year, as the Jaspers cruised to a 13-2 win over UMBC this afternoon at the Baseball Factory Field.
Eric Nieto set the tone not only for the game, but also his individual day, leading off the game with a walk, stealing second, and scoring on a
John Fitzpatrick RBI single.
Mike Garcia followed with an RBI single of his own, scoring
Matt Rizzotti.
The Jaspers added three more in the top of the second, with Nieto again planting himself in the middle of the action. After reaching on an infield single and stealing his second base of the day, he later would score when Fitzpatrick was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Garcia would then chase home two more with a two-RBI double, scoring Rizzotti and
Nick Derba.
Manhattan would blow the game open in the top of the seventh, scoring six runs to take an insurmountable 11-0 lead.
Ryan Marcoux would come on as a pinch hitter to get the scoring started, plating Fitzpatrick and Rizzotti with a two-RBI single.
Ruben Perez would then drive home pinch runner Jourdain Dutton and Garcia with a two-RBI double of his own before a double by Nieto and a single by Derba would score the final two runs of the inning.
The Retrievers would crack the scoreboard in the bottom of the frame on a two run homer, but an RBI double by Perez and an RBI single by
Nunzio Franzese would provide the final margin.
Nieto would end up 2-4 on the day, with three runs scored and three stolen bases. Derba (2-5), Garcia (2-4, three RBI), Perez (2-5, three RBI, two runs), and
Rene Ruiz (2-5) would post multi-hit games for Manhattan posted season-highs in runs and hits.
Nevins worked the first six innings for the win, scattering six hits, while allowing just one run and tallying three strikouts.
Rene Guerra posted his second straight solid outing, allowing one run on one hit while striking out three in 2.0 innings of work.
Brian Searls pitched a perfect ninth to end the game.
The two teams conclude their three game series tomorrow, with a doubleheader slated to begin at 12:00 p.m.
