LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO ($) | GAME NOTES
NEWARK, N.J. – Manhattan returns to action with its annual bye week series as the Jaspers will make the short trek to NJIT for a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10. The teams will play games consisting of seven and nine innings on both days at Riverfront Stadium.
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Weekend Pitching Rotation
Game 1 - Fr. LHP Tom Cosgrove (1-3 - 33 K - 46.2 IP - 3.66 ERA)
Game 3 - Sr. RHP Scott McClennan (4-6 - 49 K - 64.0 IP - 4.78 ERA)
Game 2 - So. LHP Joe Jacques (2-2 - 38 K - 36.0 IP - 4.00 ERA)
Game 4 - So. RHP Joey Rocchietti (1-6 - 24 K - 54.1 IP - 5.96 ERA)
All-Time Series
The Jaspers hold a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series between the teams, and won the last meeting by an 8-1 count on March 15, 2011.
Interesting
The teams' three previous match-ups have come in three different states. The Highlanders won the first-ever match-up by a 5-3 score on March 17, 2007 in Florida before Manhattan took the next meeting 11-2 in Vermont on April 9, 2009. The Jaspers then won the aforementioned most recent match-up in Newark.
About The Highlanders
The last remaining Division I independent, NJIT sports a very impressive 20-19-1 record while hitting at a .278 clip and pitching to a 4.51 ERA. Senior outfielder Ed Charlton is batting .321 with a team-best 40 runs, 51 hits, 11 doubles, seven home runs and 27 RBI to pace the offense. Junior LHP Ian Bentley leads the rotation with a 6-3 record while notching 58 strikeouts over 63.1 innings.
A Little History
Riverfront Stadium, the site of this weekend's games, used to house the defunct Newark Bears and played host to Jackie Robinson.
DYK?
The last time these teams met senior Chris Kalousdian ... pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
Coach Ruiz
Assistant Coach Rene Ruiz notched a team-best two hits for Manhattan in the teams' first match-up back in 2007.
Bye Weekend Blues
The Jaspers are just 3-9 in their bye weekends over the last four years, including 3-6 in head coach Jim Duffy's three years.
Rider Recap
After dropping both ends of last Saturday's doubleheader with Rider, Manhattan took the third and final game by a 10-7 count behind seven strikeouts over 7.0 innings from senior RHP Scott McClennan. Kalousdian hit safely in all three games en route to batting a team-best .615 (8-of-13) on the weekend.
Double-Digits
The Jaspers are now a perfect 3-0 when scoring at least 10 runs in a game and did so twice last week, besting Fordham 14-13 and Rider by the aforementioned 10-7 score.
Eight's Not Great
In the first game of last weekend's series, Manhattan lost for the first time when leading after eight innings, falling to 9-1. Additionally, the Jaspers have lost six-straight series openers and has been outscored 46-20 in the series lidlifters since besting Fairfield 9-5 in their MAAC-opener.
Closing It Out
Manhattan is 4-3 in MAAC series-finales and has won three-of-four since dropping a decisive decision to Marist. Against Rider, the Jaspers jumped out to a 7-1 lead before posting a 10-7 victory.
Hot Hitting To Say The Least
Over his last 24 games, Kalousdian has hit safely in 22-of-24 and in 18-straight while batting .436 (44-of-101) with 17 multi-hit games, 18 runs, eight extra base hits, 14 RBI and seven stolen bases. During his current 18-game hitting streak, Kalousdian is batting .468 (36-of-77) - including .388 (21-of-43) in his last 10.
During MAAC Play
Kalousdian is batting a scalding .393 with a league-leading 33 hits and has batted safely in 12-straight and 14-of-18 after failing to record a hit in the opening weekend against Fairfield. The fifth-year senior ranks among the league-leaders in average (.305-14th), hits (54-6th) and runs (31-9th).
Top Of The Order Takes Over
Since freshman Brendan Bisset and sophomore Matt Forlow assumed the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively, at the top of the line-up 20 games ago, Manhattan's offense has taken off to the tune of a .293 average. Bisset, who hit safely in all three games against Rider (.455), is batting .350 (21-of-60) during that time with a .420 OBP while Forlow is hitting .328 (22-of-67) with 11 runs, seven RBI and four doubles. On the year, Bisset is hitting .313 with Forlow notching a .235 average.
The Sant Man
Junior Christian Santisteban had another big weekend in the Jaspers' last series with Rider, hitting .417 with two doubles, two RBI and a pair of walks. His two-run double in the eighth also for all intents and purposes put the game on ice.
Santisteban Slugging
Over his last 19 games, Santisteban is hitting a blistering .381 (24-for-63) with 12 extra base hits, 16 RBI and 12 walks with a .487 OBP. He is hitting .294 on the year, including .347 during MAAC play, with 14 doubles, two triples and two home runs, a .451 slugging percentage, a .399 OBP and 26 walks.
Double Machine
After leading the MAAC with 17 doubles a year ago, Santisteban is sixth in the circuit with 14 doubles this season.
JMac/Miranda Picking Up Steam
Senior Joe McClennan, who was named the Team MVP at the annual Athletic Awards Banquet is hitting .314 (11-for-35) over his last 10 games with nine RBI. Meanwhile, classmate Mikey Miranda is hitting .346 (9-for-26) with six runs over his last eight games.
We're Going Streaking
Sophomore Jason Patnick is in the midst of a personal-best seven game hitting streak and is batting .364 (8-for-22) during that time with six runs and four RBI during that time. Freshman Michael Pfenninger, meanwhile, batted safely in all three games against Rider.
Cosgrove Dealing
Freshman LHP Tom Cosgrove didn't allow a run over 7.0 dominating innings against Rider and has yielded just two over his last 13.0 innings since joining the weekend rotation. Additionally, over his last five starts Cosgrove is pitching to a 1.69 ERA with 22 strikeouts, against just five walks, and is limiting opposing hitters to a .248 average.
Freshman In Name Only
Cosgrove, who ranks 10th in the MAAC with a team-low 3.66 ERA, struck out six over 6.0 innings of two-run ball against Niagara and has gone at least six innings in each of his last five starts.
Jacques Also Picking Up Steam
Sophomore LHP Joe Jacques, like Cosgrove, joined the rotation two weeks ago and has put up a stellar 1.50 ERA with 13 strikeouts and a 0.83 WHIP over 12.0 innings since joining the rotation.
The Best Around
Jacques fired a 7.0-inning, eighth-strikeout complete game shutout in leading Manhattan to a 7-0 win against Niagara en route to winning MAAC Pitcher of the Week accolades. Jacques, who had a no-hitter until the sixth and retired 13-straight at one point, is 2-2 with a 4.00 ERA, including a team-best 1.69 during MAAC play, with 38 strikeouts over 36.0 innings.
Seven-Inning Scott
All of Scott McClennan's team-leading four wins have come when the fifth-year senior worked at least 7.0 innings. McClennan, who clinched the Niagara series with a solid 7.0-inning performance, also paces the squad with 49 strikeouts and 64.0 innings pitched.
Now That's A Comeback!
The Jaspers toppled local-rival Fordham by a 14-13 count while overcoming an eight-run deficit thanks to a nine-run seventh inning at Dutchess Stadium. Manhattan notched a season-high 14 runs, 14 hits, 13 RBI and 11 walks in arguably the finest offensive effort of the season. Miranda led the way, going 3-for-5 with two runs.
Midweek Mike
Martin earned the win against Fordham and notched the last two midweek victories for the Jaspers. On the year, he is 2-0 with 12 strikeouts and a 4.15 ERA over 21.2 innings out of the bullpen.
M.S.=Closing It Out
Maybe it has something to do with the initials but Matt Simonetti and Michael Scarinci have notched each of the team's last two saves with Simonetti working a scoreless ninth against Fordham while Scarinci earned a 2.0-inning stop against Niagara. Simonetti has a team-leading three saves with 16 strikeouts over 25.0 innings.
The Trio ...
Kalousdian, McClennan and Santisteban have combined to notch 47.3 percent of Manhattan's hits and 43.2 percent of the team's runs during MAAC play.
Improvement
After failing to record a two-bagger in 2014, senior Vin Teixeira has crushed 11 doubles this season. In one-run wins over Quinnipiac and Marist he also delivered big two-run doubles.
Three's Company
Joe McClennan, Santisteban and Teixeira all have a team-best seven multi-RBI games.
Finishing Things Off
The trio of Kalousdian, Joe McClennan and Teixeira is hitting a combined .316 (24-for-76) with RISP during MAAC play.
Interesting
Over the last 10 games, the Jaspers' opposition has committed 24 errors after recording just 19 in the first 35 games.
300
The Jaspers recorded their 300th career MAAC victory with a 3-2 win over Marist. Manhattan is now 304-302 in league games during its 29 years of participation in the MAAC.
McClennan Doing It With The Glove
Joe McClennan earned ESPN #SCTop10 accolades for his impressive barehanded play at Monmouth, checking in at No. 4.
Dutchess Stadium
Manhattan opened its 16-game home schedule on Thursday, April 2 against Marist at Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., the new home of Jasper baseball. Home of the short-season class-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, Dutchess Stadium is used primarily for Hudson Valley Renegades baseball from late June to early September.
2015 MAAC Championship
Manhattan will host the 2015 MAAC Baseball Championship from May 20-24 at Dutchess Stadium.
Cosgrove Tabbed Top Freshman By D-1 Baseball
The Staten Island native was tabbed as the top rookie in the MAAC renowned college baseball columnist Dr. Eric Sorenson. As a senior at Farrell, Cosgrove notched a 0.76 ERA with 69 strikeouts over 55 innings of work after going 6-0 with a 1.25 ERA the previous season.
Preseason Poll
The Jaspers were slated to finish sixth in the annual MAAC Coaches Poll with Canisius (115 points) tabbed to claim the 2015 MAAC Championship. Fairfield (107) was selected to finish second followed by Monmouth (89), Siena (83), Quinnipiac (73), Manhattan (61), Rider (55), Marist (50), Niagara (38), Iona (35) and Saint Peter's (20) 11th.
MAAC Success
Manhattan has qualified for 11 of the last 12 MAAC Tournaments and is 17-17 with three MAAC Championships and two runner-up finishes during that time.
Jaspers In the NCAAs
The Riverdale-based institution is 2-7 in four trips to the NCAA Regionals, finishing second at the 2006 Lincoln Regional.
Up Next
Manhattan concludes its regular season with a three-game series at Iona beginning on Thursday, May 14 with times to be announced.
