Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Manhattan kept its undefeated home mark alive as the Jaspers' baseball team rolled to a convincing 19-3 victory over local MAAC rival Iona (9-35, 3-16 MAAC) on Friday. Manhattan (26-17, 11-8 MAAC) accumulated 23 hits in its highest scoring output at Van Cortlandt Park this season to extend the fourth longest active NCAA Division I home win streak to 12 games. Senior centerfielder Kevin Nieto helped anchor the Jaspers' superb all around offensive effort by batting 4-for-4 with a home run, four stolen bases, three runs scored and four RBI.
Junior outfielder Mark Onorati's four hit performance increased his team-leading total to 71, becoming the first player in program history to post consecutive 70+ hit seasons. Onorati scored four runs and now stands in third place all-time on the Jaspers' career runs list with 171.
Jaspers' third baseman Chad Salem completed a 3-for-5 day at the plate with his 31st career home run. The junior from Rye, N.Y. drove in three runs and scored twice. Salem tops Manhattan and currently stands top-5 in the MAAC for runs scored (61) and RBI (57).
Manhattan opened the floodgates in the second inning and never looked back. The Jaspers hit through the order and recorded seven runs in the frame on eight hits and an error. The surge featured a two-run homer from Onorati, marking his fifth of the season. Jaspers' freshman designated hitter Anthony Vega contributed two of his three hits during the second inning. Vega drove in the Jaspers' seventh run with a two-out single through the middle.
Nieto knocked in Onorati with a single in the third inning, and then in the fifth he extended the Jaspers lead to 11-0 with a three-run bomb to left field. Jaspers' starting pitcher Tom Costigan turned the lead over to reliever Mike Gazzola in the sixth. Gazzola closed out the final four innings earning his second career save. Costigan limited Iona to just two hits and he struck out four batters as he improved to 6-3 on the season.
The Gaels scored all three of their runs in the sixth inning, before Gazzola settled into a groove. Designated hitter James Beck got the first two in with a single through the left side. Iona first baseman Mike Chiaravallot knocked in the third run by singling up the middle. Gazzola allowed just two hits the rest of the game and finished with three strikeouts.
Manhattan erupted for six more runs in the seventh inning courtesy of back-to-back RBI doubles from Mike McCann and Salem, Austin Sheffield's three-run homer, and a RBI single by Nick Camastro. McCann had three hits and scored three runs in the ballgame.
Salem delivered the Jaspers' final two runs in the eighth inning when he gave first pitch he saw a ride over the scoreboard in left field. His 13 home runs are the fourth most in the MAAC.
Manhattan and Iona return to action at Van Cortlandt Park on Saturday with a doubleheader that begins at 12 p.m. In between games the Jaspers will honor their graduating senior class with an on field ceremony.
