Box Score
STORRS, CONN. - The Manhattan baseball team dropped a 5-4 decision to #19 Connecticut (39-10) on Tuesday at J.O. Christian Field. Plagued by four errors in the game, the Jaspers surrendered a one run lead in the seventh inning as Huskies' first baseman Mike Nemeth delivered the game winning two-run blast. Jaspers' starting pitcher Mike Giordano navigated through 6 2/3 innings allowing just five hits to go along with three strikeouts. Anthony Armenio and Mike McCann each homered in Manhattan's (25-17) fourth consecutive setback.
Manhattan spotted the Huskies two runs allowing Connecticut to score with the assistance of errors in the first and second innings. Huskies second baseman Pierre LePage scored the first run on a fielding miscue and he added the second with a RBI single. The junior finished 2-for-5 at the plate in the lead off spot.
Armenio got the Jaspers on the scoreboard in the fourth inning with his 10th homer of the year, which sailed out of right field. The blast complemented a 2-for-4 performance from the senior from Dix Hills, N.Y. and pulled Manhattan within 2-1.
In the fifth inning, the Jaspers tied the game with a RBI from junior outfielder Mark Onorati. Onorati pushed freshman shortstop Nick Camastro across the plate after Camastro singled in the previous at bat, and then advanced two more bases on wild pitches. McCann propelled Manhattan to its first lead of the ball game (3-2) with a 400-foot rocket to straight away center field. It was his ninth home run of the year.
Giordano, who fell to 5-3 despite one of his best efforts of the season, recorded 12 straight outs before slipping up in the seventh inning. Huskies' right fielder John Andreoli led off the seventh with a bunt single rolling it just inches inside the third base line. Andreoli scored two batters later on center fielder George Springer's RBI single, which tied the game at 3-3. Batting in the clean up spot, Nemeth finally caught up with Giordano on his 101st pitch of the game as he sent the decisive homer out to right center field.
Manhattan made a valid effort in the final frame to serve Connecticut closer Kevin Vance his first blown save of the year. The Jaspers loaded up the bases, beginning with a lead off single from Chad Salem, a walk to Austin Sheffield and a hit by pitch to Kyle Murphy. With two outs, Camastro generated a walk to get a run in and cut the deficit to 5-4. Back to the top of the order, Onorati had a chance, but he fouled out on a 2-1 pitch to third base for the final out.
Vance picked up his seventh save of the season. Connecticut sophomore reliever Scott Oberg earned the victory after pitching two hitless innings to improve to a perfect 5-0. Senior Zac Goyer gave a solid effort out of the Jaspers' bullpen allowing just one hit and striking out two batters over the final 1 1/3 innings.
Manhattan returns to Van Cortlandt Park on Friday for the first game its MAAC series with Iona. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
