Box Score (PDF)
DeLand, FL - Graduate student
John Cain (Middletown, NY / Lafayette) struck out eight while scattering one run on two hits over 7.0 dominating innings, lifting Manhattan to a dominating 5-2 win over reigning NCAA Super Regional participant Stetson in the final game of the RyCass Classic at Melching Field.
The Jaspers improve to 1-2 while the Hatters fall to 0-3.
Cain immediately set the tone for the day in the bottom of the first, as the towering lefty stranded a pair in scoring position with a three-pitch strikeout to end the threat.
In the top of the second, sophomore
Santiago Riera (Rioclaro, Venezuela / Brunswick (CT)) opened the scoring with his first career home run, a solo shot to left field.
Eric Foggo tied the game up for Stetson in the bottom of the fourth with a one-out, RBI single, before Cain hunkered down and induced an inning-ending, double-play grounder.
Manhattan immediately answered with three unearned runs in the top of the fifth. The Jaspers would break the deadlock on
Jonathan Barditch's (Fr., Miami, FL / Belen Jesuit Prep) RBI fielder's choice grounder, before senior
Richie Barrella (Larchmont, NY / Canterbury Prep) crushed a two-run homer to left field in staking the visitors to a 4-1 lead.
In the top of the seventh inning, Manhattan padded the lead with a single run on
Shawn Blake's (GS, Stratford, CT / Elon) two-out RBI double that chased in Barditch.
Cain appeared to get stronger as the game went on and retired the final eight batters he faced, before leaving with a 5-1 advantage after seven innings.
Junior RHP
T.J. Stuart (Milford, CT / Joseph A. Foran) closed out the victory with five punchouts over the final two frames, highlighted by striking out the side in the ninth.
LHP Ryan Stark was saddled with the loss, yielding four runs, one earned, on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk over 4.2 innings.
Manhattan will return to action on Saturday, February 23 at Appalachian State with first pitch tabbed for 2:00 pm.
