RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? Charlotte used a five run surge in the second inning to earn an 8-4 victory over the Manhattan College baseball team this afternoon at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium. 49ers' catcher Chris Taylor knocked in four RBIs helping Charlotte (0-3) complete the series sweep of the Jaspers.
Manhattan (0-3) got on the scoreboard first in its opening at bat. Senior outfielder Eric Nieto doubled down the left field line, took third on a wild pitch and then scored on a Luis Llerena sacrifice fly. The Jaspers 1-0 lead would prove to be its only advantage of the series.
Charlotte rallied for five runs in the bottom of the second courtesy of a solo home run by sophomore Rob Lyerly to start the inning, and a two RBI double by Shayne Moody to cap it off.
The 49ers added two more in the bottom of the third to take a 7-1 edge.
In the top of the fourth, freshman first baseman Austin Sheffield blasted a two run shot out of the park marking the first homerun of his collegiate career.
Eric Nieto scored again in fifth on a Mark Onorati RBI single. Nieto had three hits and stole two bases on the afternoon.
Charlotte added its last run in the bottom of the fifth and held the Jaspers scoreless with solid pitching over the final four innings.
Senior left-hander Luke Stahl (1-0) was credited with the win in relief of starter Ryan Rivers. Stahl allowed just one hit and struck out four over 3.2 innings of work.
Brian Pendergast (0-1), a sophomore right-hander, got the loss after allowing seven runs and seven hits in 2.2 innings.
Manhattan looks again for its first win of the season on Friday at South Alabama marking the first contest of a four game series. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Mobile, Ala.
