Riverdale, N.Y. (May 8, 2007)- Matt Rizzotti went 4-5 with two runs scored and four RBI to help lead Manhattan to a 9-2 win over University at Albany this afternoon at Van Cortlandt Park in the Jaspers' final non-conference home game of the season. Manhattan improves to 31-13 on the season, while the Great Danes fall to 20-24.
The Jaspers plated a run in the bottom of the second when Nunzio Franzese doubled home Ryan Masters before blowing the game open with a five run third.
Five straight hits opened the decisive inning. Rene Ruiz started things off with a single to center, and moved to second on a single by Kevin Nieto. Rizzotti drove home Ruiz with a single before Kevin Nieto scored on a Nick Derba double. Dom Lombardi drove home Rizzotti and Derba with a two-RBI single to increase the Manhattan lead to 6-0.
Albany was able to push across two runs with two RBI singles in the fourth before the Jaspers put the game out of reach in the bottom of the sixth on a three-run home run by Rizzotti, scoring Kevin Nieto and Ruiz ahead of him.
Albany pushed across a run in the ninth to provide the final margin.
Freshman Brian Pendergast (7-0) earned the win with three shutout innings of relief, allowing just one single. Senior Brian Searls also pitched well, twirling a perfect eighth inning in relief.
Manhattan plays its final home games of the season this weekend, as the Jaspers host Le Moyne College in a three-game MAAC series that could decide the MAAC regular season championship on Saturday and Sunday, May 12-13, with first pitch slated for 12 noon each day. The Manhattan seniors will be honored prior to the first game on Saturday.
