PRINCESS ANNE, MD – The Manhattan Jaspers Baseball team (5-5) split their series finale against the Hawks of University of Maryland Eastern Shore (1-8) after taking the first of two this afternoon 6-4 in 10 innings, but fell in the backend of the doubleheader in seven innings by a score of 8-2, inside Hawk Stadium on Sunday morning and afternoon.
GAME ONE: Manhattan: 6 | Maryland Eastern Shore: 4
- Trailing by as much as four runs heading into the visiting half of the seventh inning, Justin Best opened the inning with a double into right field, before Trevor Hansen drove him home to begin the resilient comeback.
- In the top of the eighth inning, Andreaus Lewis notched a single into left field. Pinch running for the graduate catcher was Hayden Jung-Goldberg, who swiped second—followed by Colin Basehore driving the redshirt senior home to cut the Hawks' lead in half.
- With the rally caps on in the visiting half of the ninth inning, Trevor Hansen worked an inning-opening walk before Jeremy Sosa tallied a timely double to drive Hansen home from first.
- The Jaspers tied the game after Vincent Samuel reached on a UMES miscue to ring home Sosa from third, and force extra innings.
- In the top of the tenth with the Hawks continuing to provide marquee opportunities for the Jaspers, a go-ahead wild pitch brought home Justin Best from third to put Manhattan on top.
- The final nail was Guriyandel Salva, who supplied a two-bagger into right field to bring home Hunter Sute from third, but could not land the second runner in Jeremy Sosa, who was caught in a rundown.
- Despite a valiant comeback effort by the Hawks and threatening with a runner on third four batters in, Matthew Steinberg forced the Hawks' Azcona to fly out to put the game away for the series clincher.
GAME TWO: Manhattan 2 | Maryland Eastern Shore: 8
- After taking the first game in extra innings, the Jaspers were unable to find consistency heading into the second game, with the Hawks posting the first four runs on the board in the home half of the first.
- The Green and White got on the board with one run after Danny Infante grounded into a bases-loaded double play to break the shutout.
- With the Jaspers trailing by as much as seven runs, it was Infante, again, who blooped a single to left field to drive home Justin Best from third for the team's second run, but it was not enough to earn the three-game streak.
STATS AND NOTES
- In Game 1, outfielder Justin Best went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles and a stolen base, while crossing the plate twice in the victory.
- Catcher Hunter Sute went 2-for-5 with a double and a run.
- Relief pitcher Jacob Smoot earned his first victory of the season by providing four quality innings, by surrendering one hit, three walks, and four strikeouts in 60 pitches tossed.
- Pitcher Matthew Steinberg earned his first save with one inning of work, allowing just two hits in five batters faced.
- In Game 2, infielder Guriyandel Salva went 3-for-4. In the first game, Salva provided the insurance double in extra innings.
NEXT UP:
The Green and White are back in action on Wednesday, March 4, when the Jaspers trek north to face the Bulldogs of Yale University for a 3 p.m. first pitch inside George Bush '48 Field in New Haven. The contest can be viewed on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.
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