LITTLE FALLS, NJ – The Manhattan Jaspers baseball team (17-27, 8-16 MAAC) defeated the Highlanders of NJIT (15-27-1, 6-15 America East) by a score of 7-2 inside Yogi Berra Stadium on Tuesday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Seeking a victory in its penultimate non-conference contest, the Green and White crossed the Hudson River, but started in a mini jam with runners on first and second in the first inning.
• Forcing the Highlanders into a double play was Andrew Brown, before striking out the final batter and getting out of trouble.
• The Jaspers got on the board after Justin Best's double through the right side, bringing him home following Hunter Sute's groundout.
• Continuing to widen its margin were the Green and White, with Jackson Brinker posting a base knock into left field. Then, Ryan Lordier continued his hot streak with an RBI triple to right field to score Brinker from first.
• After the Highlanders crossed the plate via the long ball, the Jaspers responded in the seventh inning with a Lordier two-bagger into right field to score Colin Basehore.
• Following the Highlander pitching change, Guriyandel Salva launched a base hit to center field to score Lordier and extend its lead to three.
• The eighth inning started with Best singling to shortstop, before Sute singled to right field and put both runners in scoring position. Then, Trevor Hansen brought the duo home with his tenth home run to centerfield and extended the lead to a game-high five runs.

STATS AND NOTES

• Starting pitcher Andrew Brown was not credited with a decision, but pitched exceptionally with 3.2 innings of work, surrendering three hits, two walks, and three strikeouts.
• Entering in relief for Brown was Ivan Epps, who tossed three quality innings, one hit, two earned runs, four walks, and a team high four strikeouts in 53 total pitches.
• Landon Kuntzelman earned his first save of the season after throwing 2.1 innings of work, one hit, one walk, and one strikeout in 39 pitches.
• Infielder Ryan Lordier continued his hot hitting with a 3-for-5 evening that included two doubles and a triple, as well as two RBIs, while crossing the plate once.
• Catcher Andreaus Lewis extended his on-base streak to 26 straight games with a 1-for-5 night, which included two strikeouts.
• Infielder Trevor Hansen launched his tenth home run of the season. He became the first Jasper to send double-digit round trippers over fences since David Bermudez supplied 14 home runs during the 2022 campaign.
• Outfielder Justin Best posted 2-for-4 with a double and crossed the plate once.

QUOTES FROM THE JASPERS

Head Coach Steven Rosen: "Want to shout out each Andrew Brown, Ivan Epps, and Landon Kuntzelman for their outstanding performances on the mound. Board was a little short today, and Brownie made his first start of the season. He really embraced a one pitch at a time mindset, putting our team into the 4th inning with a lead. He kept hitters off balance all outing and was ahead from the beginning. We turned the ball over to Ivan Epps, who this past weekend was recognized as MU's hardest working athlete in the weight room this year - and it showed. His work ethic has been tremendous, and his game has improved as a result. Put up some huge 0's in the middle part of that game to give our offense a chance to extend. And last, Landon, who has been the definition of a team guy for three years now, is willing to do whatever it takes, in any role, to find a way to help the group that day. Today, he did it by executing pitches in the hardest time of the game to do so — and he got us back on the bus with a win. Couldn't be prouder of him and all his hard work and dedication to our program."

NEXT UP:

The Jaspers conclude their 2026 home schedule this Senior Weekend, opening on Friday, May 8, against the Purple Eagles of Niagara University from Clover Stadium, beginning at 11 a.m. The contests can be viewed on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.

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