POMONA, NY – The Manhattan Jaspers baseball team (17-28, 8-17 MAAC) fell to the Purple Eagles of Niagara University (23-16-1, 18-7 MAAC) by a score of 15-11 in 10 innings of play from Clover Stadium on Friday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Looking to build on its non-conference victory from Tuesday, the Jaspers were inside their home building on Friday morning against a hungry Niagara team.
• After the Purple Eagles opened the scoring with four runs in the third inning, the Green and White responded with six of its own on the flip side, with Hunter Sute reaching on a fielder's choice, with multiple Niagara miscues to allow Justin Best and Andreaus Lewis to cross the plate.
• Then, the Purple Eagles made a pitching change, which didn't faze the Jaspers, since Trevor Hansen posted an infield single to the shortstop to score their third run.
• On the ensuing at-bat, Jackson Brinker's base knock into center field drove home Hunter Sute and tied the game at four.
• Ryan Lordier continued his hot hitting with a single through the right side to drive home Hansen from third for the go-ahead run. Followed by Guriyandel Salva singling to left field to give Manhattan a much-needed insurance run.
• Trailing by one run in the sixth inning, Andreaus Lewis supplied the Jaspers with his eighth round-tripper to tie the game once more for the Green and White at seven.
• With the opposition's miscue, Justin Best crossed the plate with the bases loaded, while Sute and Vincent Samuel each advanced a base to go in front.
• The Jaspers added another insurance marker off back-to-back bases-loaded walks and went ahead by as much as three.
• Back and forth went the Jaspers and Purple Eagles alike, before Colin Basehore smacked a go-ahead blast into the right field bleachers for an 11-10 lead, before Niagara tied the game in the ninth.
• On the home side of the ninth, the Jaspers were caught too aggressively with Vincent Samuel attempting back-to-back steals, but Niagara had sniffed out the attempt to end any further threat and force extra innings.
• The Purple Eagles would post four unanswered runs on the top side before Manhattan concluded the game in order on the flip side of the tenth inning.

STATS AND NOTES

• Catcher Andreaus Lewis extended his on-base streak to 27 straight games with the game-tying home run in the sixth inning. Lewis went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, one RBI, one walk, and the aforementioned home run.
• Infielder Vincent Samuel logged a 3-for-5 day with two runs, one walk, stole one base, and was caught stealing once.
• Infielder Guriyandel Salva posted a 3-for-6 afternoon with one RBI and a double.
• Outfielder Justin Best crossed the plate twice in four at-bats, with two walks, but added three strikeouts on the afternoon.
• Infielder Trevor Hansen went 2-for-5 on the day, crossed the plate once, stole one base, supplied an RBI, and worked one walk, while striking out three times.
• Outfielder Colin Basehore smacked a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning in a 2-for-5 day, crossed the plate once, had two RBI's, one double, one walk, and one strikeout.
• Infielder Ryan Lordier logged another 2-for-6 day, with one RBI, one walk, one strikeout, and was caught stealing twice along the base path.
• Outfielder Jackson Brinker supplied two RBI's on a 1-for-4 day, worked two walks, and struck out twice in the contest.

NEXT UP:

The Jaspers honor their Class of 2026 on Sunday, May 10, when the Green and White play host to the Purple Eagles of Niagara University for a twinbill, beginning at 11 a.m., with the Senior Day ceremonies commencing 10 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. All the action can be viewed on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.

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