GAME 2 BOXSCORE
Riverdale, N.Y. (April 26, 2006)- Josh Santerre and Rene Guerra combined on a one-hit shutout in the nightcap as Manhattan defeated Columbia, 2-0, after downing the Lions, 9-3, in the opener. The Jaspers improve to 19-17, while the Lions fall to 10-32. Eric Nieto tied the Manhattan single season stolen base record with his 25th swipe in the second game.
In the nightcap, Manhattan plated all the runs it would need in the bottom of the first. Mike Garcia worked a one out walk, stole second, and advanced to third when the catcher's throw sailed into the outfield. One out later, John Fitzpatrick singled him home with a single to center.
The Jaspers would add an insurance run in the sixth, as Dom Lombardi tripled to deep center leading off the inning, and Ryan Marcoux followed with a single through a drawn in infield to provide the final margin.
Santerre (1-2) earned the win, allowing only a one out walk in the top of the first in a scheduled three inning outing. Guerra worked the final four innings, allowing just one hit, a fourth inning single, while striking out four to earn his first collegiate save.
Guerra worked out a trouble in the fifth, as two Manhattan errors put runners on second and third with no outs, but the rookie struck out the next two batters before inducing a fly out to end the threat.
In the opener, the Jaspers again scored a first inning run, as Matt Rizzotti doubled on the first pitch he saw before Fitzpatrick tripled him home with a blast that hit the top of the outfield fence.
Columbia knotted the score at 1-1 in the fifth on a RBI double by Craig Rodwogin, scoring Henry Perkins.
Manhattan would blow the game open in the bottom of the frame, scoring six runs. The Jaspers tallied four hits, and took advantage of two Columbia errors and two walks to open up a 9-1 lead, with the big blow coming from Eric Nieto, who connected on a bases loaded double to drive home three and complete the scoring.
The Lions scored twice in the ninth to provide the final score.
Reigning MAAC Pitcher of the Week Mike Gazzola evened his record at 3-3 with the win, allowing one run on three hits while tallying a career-high 11 strikeouts.
Manhattan gets back in action this weekend, as the Jaspers travel to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. for a crucial MAAC series with the Marist College Red Foxes. The two sides will play a double-header on Saturday, April 29 and a single game on Sunday, April 30. Both days' action is slated to begin at 12 noon.