Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Chad Salem and Anthony Armenio drove in 12 runs in Manhattan's (10-6) 15-10 victory over Long Island (2-12) on Tuesday in Brooklyn. Salem, a junior third baseman from Rye, N.Y., delivered a career-high seven RBI and launched a monstrous grand slam in the sixth inning. Armenio went 2-for-4 with five RBI in the contest, including a towering three run homer.
Armenio got things started in the top of the first inning with his second home run of the year, which landed on the rooftop of a tall building beyond the right field wall giving Manhattan a 3-0 advantage. Long Island responded with six runs over its first three frames all coming off Jaspers' starting pitcher Rob Ardino. Blackbirds' first baseman Tito Marrero capped the rally with a two-run blast to left field to put Long Island out front 6-3.
Ardino had four strikeouts in three innings of action.
The Jaspers erased the deficit in the fifth inning posting five runs, which included Salem's bases clearing three run triple down the right field line. Long Island tied the game at 8-8 in the bottom of the fifth scoring two runs on an error and sacrifice fly, before Salem broke the game open with a 450-foot grand slam to deep center in the top of the sixth inning. It capped another five run surge and propelled the Jaspers' to a 13-8 lead. The shot was Salem's team-leading fourth home run of the year.
Freshman second baseman Kyle Murphy led off the seventh inning with his second home run of the season and Armenio added a RBI single in the ninth en route to the Jaspers' 10th victory. Murphy hit 3-for-4 and scored three runs. Junior left fielder Mark Onorati also delivered a solid performance going 2-for-3 with his team-leading 10th double of the season and scored four runs.
Senior right-hander Zac Goyer earned his first win of the year in the relief effort. He pitched an efficient 2 1/3 innings with two strikeouts. Tom Moran twirled 2 2/3 innings out of the bullpen allowing just two hits. Freshman John Soldinger, the reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week, was perfect in the ninth striking out two of three batters faced.
Manhattan returns to action on Wednesday when the Jaspers travel to Hofstra. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
