The baseball team lost a three game series to conference opponent, the Manhattan Jaspers, over the weekend. The Hawks are now 9-17 (5-5 MAAC) while the Jaspers improved to 7-23 (4-8 MAAC).
MU began the weekend by splitting a double header on Saturday at Van Cortlandt Park in Bronx, NY.
Senior southpaw Andrew McGee was featured in the first game which turned into an extra inning conquest.
Game one did not see any runs until the fourth inning when senior Jon Guida knocked in freshman Grant Lamberton. The Jaspers responded with a run of their own knotting the game at 1-1. Manhattan scored again in the fifth as Shawn Kalousdian singled to plate Jose Carerra from second.
The blue and white then took a brief lead by scoring two runs in sixth. On the first pitch thrown in the inning, senior first baseman Danny Avella tied the game with a solo shot to right field. The home run counted for Avella’s first on the season. The Hawks then jumped ahead of the Jaspers when junior Steve Wilgus hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 3-2.
Manhattan took the lead in the seventh after sophomore southpaw Anthony Ciavarella came in to pitch for McGee. Ciavarella allowed one run in one inning pitched pushing the game to a tie.
As neither team was able to score again in regular play, the game was sent into extra innings. The tenth saw no action on either side of the bench, however, the Hawks were able to plate a run in the top of the eleventh.
Lamberton knocked in outfielder Joe Bamford to pull ahead at 4-3. The Jaspers then tied the game in the bottom of the eleventh due to a batter being hit by a pitch by Paglione.
With the bases loaded, Manhattan’s Christian Santisteban hit a single to left center and secured the Jaspers game one with a final score of 5-4.
McGee tossed six innings allowing two runs on six hits. Junior right hander Jeff Paglione was given the loss.
The second game saw a pitching duel between junior right hander TJ Hunt and Manhattan’s left handed Nick Girardi.
The two kept the game scoreless until the sixth inning when the Hawks were able to shake the Jaspers for four runs.
MU began the rally with Bamford getting on base due to a poor throw by the Jaspers pitcher. Senior second baseman Jake Gronsky then singled to right followed by Sweeney drawing a walk to load the bases.
With an 0-1 count, Avella placed a single to left center driving in both Bamford and Gronsky. Guida then hit into a double play, however, Sweeney was safe at third. This brought sophomore catcher Connor White to the plate. White connected for a single which earned him his first RBI of the year. He then stole second, another first of the year. Wilgus gave the Hawks their final run of the inning with a single to right center bringing White home from second.
The Hawks scored once more in the bottom of the seventh by connecting for four consecutive singles.
With the 6-0 victory, Hunt’s record improved to 3-4 and he tossed his second complete game of the year. He also struck out seven while allowing four hits and one walk against Manhattan.
Leading the Hawks offensively for the day was Avella who went 2-for-5 in the first game and 2-for-3 in the second game. He also had four RBI’s and one run in the double header.
The Hawks lost the series the following day in a close 2-0 game. Junior right hander Chris McKenna put up another solid line for the blue and white as he pitched six plus innings allowing two runs on six hits and striking out six. Sophomore lefty Frank Trimarco relieved McKenna for two scoreless innings.
The Hawks tried to gain McKenna runs in the third after they loaded the bases, however, they were unable to score a base runner.
Neither team scored until the sixth when Manhattan’s Jason Patnick was brought home by Santisteban’s double to right field. The Jaspers furthered their advantage in the seventh when Evan Brown hit a solo home run. The score did not change throughout the remainder of the game and MU lost, 2-0.
Both Bamford and Sweeney had two hits for the Hawks on the day while Lamberton and Gronsky had one hit each.
MU returns to the ballpark on Wednesday, April 16 to face the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights. First pitch will be at 3 pm.
PHOTO COURTESY of Jim Reme
