Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Catamounts' freshman Luke Gragg delivered a walk-off RBI single to send Western Carolina (5-2) to a 9-8 victory over the Manhattan baseball team on Sunday in Cullowhee, N.C. Jaspers' senior Austin Sheffield and sophomore Anthony Vega blasted their first home runs of the season, while sophomore shortstop Nick Camastro went 4-for-5 from the plate and scored two runs as Manhattan dropped the rubber match with the Catamounts.
Manhattan (1-2) battled back from a three run deficit and led 8-5 entering the bottom of the eighth inning. Vega broke a five run tie in the top of the eighth inning with a lead off solo homer. Then back-to-back singles from Camastro and freshman second baseman Yoandry Galan forced the Catamounts to make a change on the mound replacing lefty Morgan McKinney for sophomore right-hander Jeremy Sluder.
Senior Mark Onorati delivered a sacrifice bunt to move Camastro and Galan in scoring position, and then Sluder walked Jaspers' right fielder Mike McCann to load the bases. Manhattan third baseman Chad Salem also earned a walk to push through another run, before Sheffield capitalized on the bases loaded opportunity delivering a sacrifice fly to send the Jaspers ahead by three runs.
Western Carolina answered back making up the three run deficit in the bottom of the eighth inning working against Jaspers' freshman Jacob Marchus. After a couple of walks, Catamounts' junior right fielder Cameron Dullnig singled through the right side to get the first run in, and then junior second baseman Ross Heffley delivered the game-tying two RBI double.
Catamounts' senior right-handed pitcher Brandon Johnson retired the Jaspers in order in the top of the ninth striking out two of three batters. Johnson pitched two hit-less innings in relief and recorded three strikeouts.
In the bottom of the ninth, Gragg stepped up with two outs singling of off Manhattan junior right-hander Taylor Sewitt driving home Notaro for the game winning run. Gragg went 2-for-2 from the plate and Notaro also had two hits.
Sheffield got Manhattan on the scoreboard in the fourth inning when he blasted a solo homer over the center field wall. McCann drove in his first run of the year in the fifth inning, and the sophomore catcher Ramon Ortega scored on a throwing error in the sixth inning to tie the game at three apiece. Salem drove in his seventh RBI of the Jaspers' three game set with Western Carolina in the seventh inning, right before Sheffield doubled to left center sending in another run.
Manhattan starter Mike Giordano pitched six innings and logged six strikeouts in his season debut. Johnson earned the victory for Western Carolina.
The Jaspers return to the diamond on Wednesday when Manhattan travels to cross-Bronx rival Fordham. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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