Riverdale, N.Y. (May 12, 2007)- In a battle between the top two teams in the MAAC, Le Moyne College won both ends of a twin bill this afternoon at Van Cortlandt Park. The Dolphins won the opener, 4-2, and the nightcap, 3-1. Despite the losses, the Jaspers maintain their place atop the MAAC standings, even though the team falls to 31-15, 19-3 MAAC, while Le Moyne improves to 26-17, 18-3 MAAC. The Manhattan senior class was honored prior to the first game.
In the opener, the Dolphins scored twice in the top of the first to set the tone for the afternoon as three of the first four batters tallied hits to drive in two.
Manhattan responded in the bottom of the fourth, as Matt Rizzotti reached on an infield single to lead off the inning, and scored when Nick Derba connected on his MAAC leading 11th home run of the season, knotting the score at 2-2.
Unfortunately, the game did not remain tied for long, as Le Moyne was able to scratch out single runs in the fifth and sixth to provide the final margin.
The Jaspers put a runner on in each of the final two innings, but Ryan Woods came on in relief of starter Bobby Blevins to close things out.
The nightcap began as a pitchers duel between Manhattan's Josh Santerre and Le Moyne's Eric Beaulac, as each pitcher put up goose eggs over the first three innings.
Le Moyne broke through in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs on just two hits to take a 3-0 lead, but Manhattan rallied for a run in the bottom of the frame.
Nunzio Franzese walked to lead off the inning, and advanced to second on an Eric Nieto single, in what ended up being the Jaspers' lone hit of the game. Rene Ruiz struck out on the ensuing at bat, but the third strike got past the Dolphin catcher, allowing both runners to advance. Kevin Nieto was up next, and hit a come backer to the pitcher, who fielded the ball cleanly and caught Franzese in a rundown. When the pitcher threw the ball to the third baseman, Franzese broke for home, and the third baseman's throw hit him in the back, allowing him to score. A strikeout and a fielder's choice ended the threat, and the Jaspers did not threaten again, as Woods came on for his second save of the game, and 12th of the season.
The two teams will complete their three game MAAC series with a single, nine-inning game tomorrow, Sunday, May 13, with the first pitch slated for 12 noon.
