TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Manhattan Baseball fought until the very end Sunday afternoon, coming within two to No. 18 Alabama, but fell short, 11-8, in the final game of the series at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
The Jaspers (0-3) continue their 14-game road swing next Friday at Norfolk State with a trio of games against the Spartans (2-1).
"I'm not in the habit of being happy with moral victories but we competed with Alabama and a slew of top pitching prospects in the SEC," said head
Dave Miller.
Daniel Perez,
Drew Wyers, and
Dylan Mayer each split six of the Jaspers' ten hits on the day. Perez and Wyers raked in 2RBI as well.
Frankie Marinelli went 1-for-2 with 1 RBI and a pair of runs scored, while
Trevor Hansen,
Trevor Santos, and
Josiah Brown all secured hits as well.
Manhattan's mound threw a stellar performance led by starter
Joseph Duffield. The freshman allowed one hit in 1 inning of work. Classmate
Michael Staiano pitched 3 innings in relief and allowed two runs on three hits with five strikeouts.
"Potential first rounders and we played with them," Miller said. "Only being outside a few days before we came down I'm happy with our performance. We will be better each and every week. I'm excited for Manhattan baseball."
Alabama pieced together back-to-back two-run innings to jump out to an early lead, but the Jaspers' offense answered with a three-run third to break open their scoreless season. Hansen (error) and Santos (walked) shifted into scoring position on a sac bunt from Brown and a long centerfield fly from Marinelli gave Hansen the push home. Perez (2-for-5) put a single into right field to score Santon and Wyers (2-for-4) followed up with a double to right center to bring in Perez.
The Crimson Tide countered the rally with a pair of two-run homers to lengthen the lead, 8-3, and tacked on their third of five home runs on the day with a solo shot from Evan Sleight.
Manhattan's bats stayed hot for another three-run outing in the fifth led by a Santos single to center and the crew scratched out another run in the top of the sixth when Marinelli took advantage of a pair of Alabama errors.
A sixth-inning home run from Alabama put three between the foes, but Mayer fought back with a double to center to open the seventh and scored on a single from Hansen to put the Green and White back in contention, trailing 10-8, with three to play.
Both teams neutralized any scoring efforts until an Alabama homer in the bottom of the eighth concluded the day.
