The Quadrangle

Issue date: 3/21/07 Section: Sports

The Jasper baseball team entered spring break struggling to build the momentum they assembled from last year's performance. Manhattan was determined to turn things around in their set of games in Florida.
The Jaspers' mission was not an easy one because in their first two games: they faced a Florida International team that had already collected twelve wins on the year.
Entering their first game with Manhattan, the Golden Panthers had won each of their two previous games in their last at bat.
Senior lefty Josh Santerre took the mound for the Jaspers, seeking his first win of the year. He took the mound with the lead after Matt Rizzotti singled home speedster Eric Nieto in the top of the first.
Santerre limited the Golden Panthers to just two hits in his first four innings. The Jaspers offense rewarded him by extending the lead when third baseman Dom Lombardi tripled home two runs in the fifth.
Santerre relented slightly, but never allowed Florida International to even the score. The southpaw got through eight innings allowing four runs.
Closer Tom Costigan would have to earn his first save of the season for the Jaspers to obtain the victory. Costigan got the first out, but then walked a batter who eventually stole second base.
With two outs, a classic ninth inning showdown with Jesse McOwen, the best hitter on the FIU squad came about. Costigan got McOwen to fly out to left field, and the Jaspers had earned a hard fought victory.
The next night featured a rematch between the two evenly matched teams.
The game quickly turned into a slugfest, featuring a six run fifth inning from Manhattan. The entire lineup got in on the fun, as every player had at least one hit.
Lombardi once again paced the offense with two hits and three RBI.
Refusing to lose quietly, the Golden Panthers were able to rally once again in the bottom of the seventh inning. FIU scored three runs, which all came home with two outs, when Cody Jacobs drilled a home run to left center field.
In the top of the eighth, Nunzio Franzese scored what would be the winning run on a wild pitch by Ryan Bernal. Freshman Tom Moran was brilliant in relief for the Jaspers, as he held FIU hitless over the final two innings, and finally stabilizing a wild back and forth game.
Freshman Brian Pendergast earned his first career win in relief, with Moran getting credit for the save.
The two game series sweep is a mark of great progress for Manhattan baseball. It marks the first time the team has swept FIU since they started playing this series four years ago.
Overall, they have won three games in a row and helped build some positive momentum as they prepare to enter conference play. Winning close ballgames is a characteristic of a great team. This fact makes the two one-run victories look even better.
The Jaspers will complete their trip by competing in the Palm Beach Challenge. They return home this week and will begin their mission of winning the conference regular season for the first time.

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