Box Score College Baseball
Manhattan College 9, Rider University 8 (15 innings)
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—A two-out single, a wild pitch and another two-out single in the top of the 15th inning gave Manhattan a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory at Rider Sunday. “We had more than one chance to win this ball game,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “I can't remember ever being in a 15-inning game before but I imagine they are more fun to win.”
With the win Manhattan (11-28, 6-12 MAAC) wins the series, the first time Manhattan won a series with Rider since 2009. Two of the three games went extra innings. “We lost two extra inning games this weekend, two games that clearly we could have won,” Davis said. “You have to give Manhattan credit. They pitched out of some jams and got the hits when they needed it. We didn't.”
Rider (13-25, 5-8 MAAC) trailed 7-0 in the third inning but tied the score at 7-7 in the eighth inning and 8-8 in the 10th inning. “It was a nice comeback,” Davis said, “but you can't fall behind 7-0. We've given up too many runs early a number of times this year.”
A sacrifice fly by junior Justin Thomas (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South) tied the score at 7-7 and an RBI single by Thomas tied the score at 8-8. Thomas had four RBI and three hits in the game.
The Broncs scored three runs in the sixth inning when junior Mike Parsons (Liverpool, NY) doubled and Thomas and sophomore James Locklear (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) hit RBI singles to cut the Jasper lead to 7-4. Locklear had three of Rider's 12 hits.
Thomas hit an RBI single in the seventh inning as Rider cut the lead to 7-6.
Sophomore Vincenzo Aiello (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville), the Rider closer, pitched seven and two-thirds innings of relief, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out three. “Vinnie was outstanding,” Davis said. “He did a great job. He gave us a chance to get back into the game.”
Rider travels to Saint Joseph's Tuesday and hosts Lafayette Wednesday. “We need to hit with runners in scoring position,” Davis said. “That's where this game was lost.”
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