RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? Manhattan College senior infielder Ruben Perez was selected MAAC Co-Player of the Week and freshman pitcher Matt Jordan was named MAAC Rookie of the Week as announced Monday at the league office. Perez and Jordan helped guide the Jaspers to a conference series victory at Iona last week which secured the program's second consecutive MAAC Regular-Season Title.
Perez shared the Player of the Week award with Canisius third baseman Kevin Mahoney after going .625 (10-15) from the plate in the three game series, which improved his batting average to .406 on the season. The co-captain from Miami also knocked in six RBI, recorded three doubles and boasted a .647 on-base percentage. Perez delivered multi-hit performances in each of the three contests, including a career-high five hits and four RBI in game one on Friday. Perez is second on the team with 20 doubles and 24 multi-hit games this season.
Jordan earned his fourth win and the Jaspers' 18th MAAC victory on Saturday in a 10-1 triumph in the regular-season finale versus the Gaels. The left-hander from Kingston pitched five solid innings, struck out six batters, allowed just five hits and yielded only one walk.
Manhattan (34-16, 18-6 MAAC)has earned its seventh straight berth in the four-team field of the MAAC Baseball Championships which begin on Thursday at Waterfront Park in Trenton, N.J. The top-seeded Jaspers set a program record with 34 regular-season victories. Manhattan will face #4 Rider (26-21, 14-10) in its opening round match up at 7:30 p.m.
