Manhattan Returns To Action At Maine

Video | Live Stats

Orono, ME – Manhattan (8-20) returns to action with four games at Maine (9-16) this weekend starting with a 3:00 pm doubleheader on Friday, April 14. Live video will be provided through America East TV.

Probable Pitching Match-Ups:

Game 1 (9 innings) - Friday, April 14 - 3:00 pm
Manhattan: Junior LHP Tom Cosgrove (1-4; 7.39 ERA; 54 K/22 BB; 35.1 IP)
Maine: Junior RHP Justin Courtney (2-3; 4.01 ERA; 38 K/16 BB; 42.2 IP)

Game 2 (7 innings) - Friday, April 14 - 6:15 pm
Manhattan: Freshman RHP Nick Massa (0-0; 4.96 ERA; 13 K/5 BB; 16.1 IP)
Maine: Junior RHP Jonah Normandeau (1-3; 4.38 ERA; 25 K/18 BB; 37.0 IP

Game 3 (9 innings) - Saturday, April 15 - 12:00 pm
Manhattan: Senior RHP Matt Simonetti (2-1; 3.93 ERA; 14 K/4 BB; 18.1 IP) 
Maine: Freshman RHP Cody Laweryson (2-1; 2.50 ERA; 21 K/5 BB; 18.0 IP)

Game 3 (7 innings) - Saturday, April 15 - 3:15 pm
Manhattan: Senior RHP Joey Rocchietti (2-2; 4.57 ERA; 35 K/7 BB; 43.1 IP) 
Maine: Junior RHP John Arel (0-0; 8.10 ERA; 4 K/2 BB; 3.1 IP)

QUICK HITS (OFFENSE/DEFENSE):
* Since senior Jose Carrera returned to the starting line-up, Manhattan has turned eight double plays in five games after registering just eight in the first 23 games.
 * He is hitting .400 over his last three games with two runs, two stolen bases, two doubles and one HBP. 
* Sophomore Fabian Pena is batting a team-best .333 with a team-best 17 runs, 36 hits and 11 doubles.
* Senior Evan Brown is also hitting .333 and paces the Jaspers with three home runs, a .394 OBP and a .544 slugging percentage.
* Over his last seven games, Brown has reached base safely each time out while batting .360 (9-for-25) with two doubles, two home runs, five RBI and six runs.
* Junior Brendan Bisset has reached base in 17-of-20 games since assuming the leadoff spot in the line-up and has a team-high matching 14 RBI.
* Senior Jason Patnick, classmate Matt Forlow and junior Michael Pfenninger each clouted their first home runs of the year over the last week.
* Patnick crushed a three-run shot to open the scoring in a win over Fairfield before Pfenninger clouted a solo blast for his first career home run later in the third inning.
* Forlow also recorded the first of his career in a win at Army West Point and has hit safely in each of his last five games, batting .400 (6-of-15) with five RBI and has reached at a .550 clip (11-of-20) during that time.
 
QUICK HITS (PITCHING):
* Rocchietti earned the win against Fairfield with 7.0 solid innings. Over his three conference starts, he has 17 strikeouts, against just two walks, over 20.0 innings with Manhattan winning going 3-0 during that time.
* Sophomore RHP Matt Jones fired a career-high 5.0 innings in picking up his first collegiate win at Army West Point.
* Senior RHP Shawn Kanwisher has worked 3.0 perfect frames in recording saves at Fairfield and Army West Point.
* Freshman RHP T.J. Stuart was impressive in striking out five over 2.0 innings of work during midweek action. 
* Simonetti fired 4.0 hitless innings in the opener at Fairfield while Massa notched a career-high 4.0 innings ... Each pitcher will make a start this weekend. 
* The Jaspers have notched eight double-digit strikeout performances and are second in the MAAC and 93rd nationally with 8.1 strikeouts per game
* Individually, Cosgrove continues to pace the MAAC with 54 strikeouts (72nd NCAA) and 13.75 strikeouts per nine innings (4th NCAA).

A REUNION OF SORTS 
* Maine Head Coach Nick Derba was a three-time All-MAAC selection for the Jaspers from 2004-2007 and helped Manhattan to its first MAAC Championship in 2006. He was then drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 30th round of the 2007 MLB First-Year Player Draft, eventually ascending to Triple-A. 
* Derba took over for former Jasper coach Steve Trimper, who is now the Head Coach at Stetson.


ALSO OF NOTE
* Manhattan has seven home runs in the last six games after notching just three in the first 22.
* The Jaspers will be looking to snap an eight-game losing streak to America East opposition that dates back to the 2015 season.
* Maine leads the all-time series by a 3-0 count with the teams last meeting in 2000.
* The Black Bears won the first match-up by a 12-7 count in 1902.

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 .333 (36-of-108) with 17 runs, 36 hits, 11 doubles, one triple, two home runs and 11 RBI.

THAT'S FAST
Carrera tabbed as one of the top-five stolen base threats in the Division I ranks by the NCAA. On the year, he is hitting .273 with 12 hits, eight runs, three walks and three stolen bases. For the entire article click HERE.

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.

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, 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 Coaches Poll for the second-straight year and fourth time in Duffy's tenure in Riverdale.

2006 TEAM INDUCTED TO HALL OF FAME
The landmark 2006 Jaspers' 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 hosts Hofstra on Tuesday, April 18 with first pitch slated for 6:30 pm.