Manhattan To Play Doubleheader With UMass Lowell

Norfolk, VA - Manhattan (2-7) returns to action with a doubleheader against UMass Lowell (4-6) at 12:00 pm on Sunday, March 12 at Perry Field on the campus of Virginia Wesleyan College. There will be no live stats or video stream.
Schedule:
Game 1 - Sunday, March 12 - 12:00 pm (9 innings)
Senior LHP Joe Jacques (0-1; 5-06 ERA) vs. Junior RHP Andrew Ryan (1-1; 5.17 ERA)

Game 2 - Sunday, March 12 - 3:00 pm (7 innings) 
Senior RHP Joey Rocchietti (0-1; 4.76 ERA) vs. Sophomore RHP Collin Duffley (1-0; 1.59 ERA)

MIXING IT UP
The Jaspers and the River Hawks took things into their own hands following Friday's snowfall that hampered most of the Northeast and will be playing a doubleheader in Norfolk, VA.

FORDHAM RECAP
Manhattan split a doubleheader at Fordham, taking game two by a 4-2 count after dropping an 8-4 decision in the nightcap. The Jaspers had a number of strong performances:
Junior Brendan Bisset: 2 hits, 2 RBI, double
Sophomore Fabian Pena: 3 hits, RBI
Senior Evan Brown: 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 doubles, 1 SB
Senior Jason Patnick: 3 hits, 3 runs, 2 RBI, triple
Freshman Alex Cerda: 3 hits, 2 RBI, 1 run
Junior Adam Genners: 3 hits, 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 SB
Sophomore Anthony Rocchietti: 5 A, 0 errors
Sophomore RHP Marc Galvan: 7.0 ip, 7K, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB
Sophomore RHP Ryan Takacs: 4.0 ip, 3K, 2 H, 1 UER

FIU RECAP
Last weekend, Manhattan pitched to a 3.66 ERA over four games at FIU with all seven relievers combining to post a 0.00 ERA with nine strikeouts, against just three walks, over 10.0 innings of three-hit ball. Senior RHP Matt Simonetti fired 2.1 perfect innings with three strikeouts in earning the series-opening win while classmate RHP Shawn Kanwisher allowed just one walk with three strikeouts and a save in 3.0 innings over two appearances. For good measure, freshman RHP Nick Massa fired 3.2 innings of two-hit ball with three strikeouts. Brown paced the offense by hitting .429 (3-for-7) with a double, home run and RBI.

BROWN'S BACK
After not playing last year, Brown has returned with a bang and is pacing the squad in hitting (.444), doubles (3), home runs (1), OBP (.500) and slugging (.778).

PENA NAMED TO JOHNNY BENCH AWARD LIST
Pena was named to the official watch list for the 2017 Johnny Bench Award presented by BaseballSavings.com as announced by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission. On the year, he is hitting .278 with a team-best 10 hits and three doubles while throwing out 42.9 percent (6-of-14) of runners attempting to steal.

THAT'S FAST
Senior Jose Carrera (Miami, FL / St. Brendan) was tabbed as one of the top-five stolen base threats in the Division I ranks by the NCAA. On the year, he is hitting .280 with seven hits, five runs and a stolen base. For the entire article click HERE.

FOR STARTERS
Last weekend, Jacques, junior LHP Tom Cosgrove and Joey Rocchietti all turned in impressive performance on the mound at FIU.
Jacques: 6.2 IP, 6 K, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB
Cosgrove: 6.0 IP, 6 K
Rocchietti: 6.2 IP, 4 K, 2 ER 

THE RETURNERS
Manhattan returns 25 letterwinners, including seven starting position players and their entire weekend rotation from a year ago. Click HERE for the entire prospectus.

ROAD WARRIORS
The Jaspers will play its first 17 games either on the road or at a neutral site.

DUTCHESS STADIUM
Manhattan will call Duchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, NY home for the third-straight season.

DUFFY BACK FOR SIXTH YEAR
Head Coach Jim Duffy returns to Riverdale for his sixth year at the helm of the Jaspers. Duffy guided Manhattan to the MAAC Championship in 2012 and last season won his 100th career game.

PENA GARNERS PRESEASON HONORS
On the heels of his landmark rookie campaign, Pena was tabbed as the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year in the annual Coaches Poll as well as by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, D1 Baseball and Perfect Game.

TOP PROSPECT(S)
Pena also was selected as the No. 1 MAAC Pro Prospect for the 2018 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft by D1Baseball.Com and was slated as the 130th top collegiate prospect for the 2018. Cosgrove was also slated as the top prospect for the 2017 MLB Draft by Baseball America and as the fourth-best by D1Baseball.Com. Additionally 2016 First Team All-MAAC selection Jose Carrera was picked as the No. 10 pro prospect in the circuit by Baseball America.

NEWCOMERS
The Jaspers welcome nine student-athletes to the fold this year, including five pitchers and four position players.

MAAC PRESEASON POLL
Manhattan was tabbed to finish fourth and return to the MAAC Tournament in the annual preseason Coach Poll for the second-straight year and fourth time in Duffy's tenure in Riverdale.

THE STAFF
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Brian McCullough is back for his second year while assistant coach Danny Benedetti is in his first season.

2006 TEAM INDUCTED TO HALL OF FAME
The landmark 2006 Manhattan Baseball team that upset nationally ranked Nebraska en route to a second-place finish at the Lincoln Regional was selected to the Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame this past fall.

UP NEXT
Manhattan will take part in the Seton Hall "Strike Out Cancer" Tournament starting on Friday, March 17 in South Orange, NJ.