Box Score
FORT MYERS, Fla. - One week after opening its season with a three-game series at Florida International, the Manhattan College baseball team returned to the Sunshine Set to begin a four-game set with 23rd-ranked Florida Gulf Coast on Friday night. The Jaspers (0-4) were unable to pick up their first win of 2013, however, as Ricky Knapp allowed just three hits over eight innings to lead the Eagles (6-2) to a 6-2 victory at Swanson Stadium.
Florida Gulf Coast jumped ahead early, scoring three times in the bottom of the first. Sean Dwyer knocked in the first run with a single, then scored on a Michael Suchy groundout. Zack Tillery followed with triple to right center that put the Eagles up 3-0. Florida Gulf Coast increased its lead to 4-0 on an RBI single by Brooks Beisner in the third.
After being held to just one hit thru five innings, the Jaspers finally got to Knapp in the top of the sixth. Matt Troisi (Brooklyn, N.Y.) reached on an error to start the inning, then traded places with Nick Camastro (Lagrangeville, N.Y.), who hit into a fielder's choice. Camastro stole second and third before Yoandry Galan (Miami, Fla.) drew a walk to put runners on the corners with two down. Ramon Ortega (Miami, Fla.) was up next, and he ripped a single to right that knocked in Camastro with Manhattan's first run. Brendan Slattery (Danbury, Conn.) followed with an RBI single of his own that made it 4-2.
However, the Eagles got those two runs back in the bottom of the seventh. With two down, Beisner ripped a bases loaded single to knock in a pair and increase Florida Gulf Coast's lead to 6-2.
Kyle Murphy (Waterbury, Conn.) had the other Manhattan hit, a fifth-inning single that broke up a perfect game. Michael Martin (Massapequa, N.Y.) got the start on the mound for the Jaspers and lasted 6.2 innings. Martin (0-1) yielded six runs (five earned) on 10 hits while striking out four and walking one. Michael Scarinci (Nanuet, N.Y.) tossed 1.1 innings of perfect relief.
Beisner went 3-for-4 with three RBIs for the Eagles, who collected 10 hits as a team. Dwyer was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Brandon Bednar also crossed the plate twice. Knapp (3-0) went eight innings, giving up two unearned runs on just three hits. He struck out seven and walked one. Danny Patrick pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, recording a strikeout.
The Jaspers and Eagles are back at it on Saturday, when they'll take the field for a pair of seven-inning contests. Game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.
