TROY, NY — Manhattan kicked off the MAAC Regular Season against a familiar foe, the Siena Saints, who hosted the Jaspers for the first two games of a three-game set. Manhattan fell in game one by a score of 12-7 before bouncing back for a 12-6 win in game two. Both games were played at Robison Field at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
GAME ONE
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After going down in order in the top of the first, Manhattan conceded the game's opening run in the bottom of the frame when Siena's Aidan Paradine reached on a fielder's choice that scored a run but got an out at second.
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Siena would tack on five more runs in the bottom of the second. Jaspers starting pitcher Andrew Castellucio induced a double-play off the bat of Edwin Sanchez to make it two outs with a Saints runner on third. However, Siena would break the game open after a hit-by-pitch, a wild pitch, three singles and an E5.
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With the score still 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Castellucio got out of a first and second jam by inducing a fly out to left and a ground out to third base.
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Manhattan got two runs back in the top of the fifth.
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With Colin Basehore pinch-hitting for Guriyandel Salva, the Pennsylvania native produced a sacrifice fly, scoring Jeremy Sosa and advancing Ryan Ash to third.
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After Dylan Mayer was inserted as a pinch runner for Basehore, right fielder Aidan Taclas mustered an RBI single to cut the deficit to 6-2.
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Siena brought home three more runners in the bottom half of the sixth to take a 10-2 lead.
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Manhattan would tack on another run on an RBI groundout from Sosa that scored Ryan Lordier.
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Siena fired back with two more runs off of Jaspers reliever Joey Craska when Saints lead-off hitter Jeremy Sangalang stole third and then came home on a throwing error by catcher Andreaus Lewis. Siena right-fielder Owen Pincince left his mark with a double, before advancing to third on a wild pitch and then coming home on an RBI groundout by Paradine.
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Working off of Siena relief pitcher Sebastian Bentz in the ninth, Manhattan delivered three hits to open the frame capped by an RBI single from Taclas that made the score 12-4 Saints.
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The Saints went back to the bullpen to call on Marcus Botelho with no outs and runners on first and third for the Jaspers. Manhattan scored its last three runs on a fielder's choice-RBI for Trevor Hansen and a two-run RBI double for Hunter Sute.
GAME TWO
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In the top of the first, Taclas added his third RBI of the day on an RBI groundout to second base. The Jaspers led 1-0, but not for long.
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Siena responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame off a three-run shot by Jake Sparks to give the Saints a 3-1 lead.
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With Manhattan later trailing 3-1 in the top of the third, the Jaspers worked a rally starting with Siena's Holden Phelps issuing walks to Mayer and Sute. Taclas added another RBI with a double to right center that scored Mayer.
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After Lordier got hit by a pitch to load the bases, Lewis came through with a bases-clearing RBI double that gained a 5-4 lead for Manhattan.
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In the bottom of the fourth, Siena tied the game on an E6 that scored Sangalang.
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A solo homer from Taclas off Tyler Sausville in the top of the seven inning regained a 6-5 for Manhattan.
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Manhattan never trailed again, tacking on six more runs on four hits in the eighth. Sute drove in two with a single, Lordier scored one with a single and Lewis produced two more runs with a double to reach the final score.
STATS AND NOTES
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Junior Trey Packen was the winning pitcher in game two, throwing four innings in relief of starter Andrew Brown.
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Packen amassed four strikeouts while giving up one earned run.
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Packen has 11 career wins, including two this season.
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Taclas finished his day with five hits and five RBIs enroute to the doubleheader split.
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Taclas' home run in the seventh was the first homer of his D1 career.
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Taclas has driven in eight runs this season which only trails Lewis' 10 RBIs.
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The catcher Lewis had a successful day at the plate, racking up a career-high five RBIs in the second game highlighted by his bases-emptying double in the top of the third.
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Redshirt sophomore Chris Fidanza pitched two shutout innings in game two.
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The Jaspers have three line-up cogs hitting over .300 this season, with Taclas at .354, Lordier at .341 and Lewis at .324.
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Manhattan has six home runs as a team through 13 games, taking three less games than the 2024 season to reach the six home run mark.
QUOTES FROM MANHATTAN
Head coach Steven Rosen: "Proud of the response from the boys on a tough day to play baseball. The elements were tough, and after a difficult first game, they fought hard to play better and come away with a win."
Rosen on the pitching contributions in game two: "Andrew Brown, Trey Packen and Chris Fidanza were all great and the bats came alive. Excited for a practice day tomorrow and a chance to win a series on Sunday."
NEXT TIME OUT
Manhattan (5-8, 1-1 MAAC) and Siena (2-10, 1-1 MAAC) will conclude the three-game set on Sunday at noon. The rubber match will be played at Honey Field on the campus of Bard College. The action can be streamed live on Team 1 Sports, live and on-demand video streaming powered by Hudl TV.
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