Sports-Manhattan College

Jaspers Shut Out Marist

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 8- Junior right hander Scott McClennan tossed a complete game shutout as the Manhattan baseball team defeated Marist 2-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action on Sunday afternoon. It was the third win in four games for the Jaspers (13-15, 5-4 MAAC) as they won the series against the Red Foxes.

McClennan was the benefactor of some solid defense behind him as the Jaspers turned four double plays in the game and had two outfield assists. Meanwhile, the offense took advantage of a poor outing from starter Rich Vrana and got some timely hitting to push across their two runs.

After working around a two out double in the first, McClennan got the first of multiple great defensive plays in the top of the second. With a runner on first and one out Brendan Slattery  dropped a fly ball in left that put runners on first and second. Eric Helmrich then laced a single into centerfield and as Zach Passerelle tried to score, center fielder Aidan John O’Leary  threw a perfect strike to home just ahead of the runner for the second out. McClennan then picked off Joey Aiola at second base to end the threat.

In the home half of the inning, Manhattan was able to push across a run without recording a hit. Freshman designated hitter Chris Reynolds reached on a fielder’s choice and then stole second before reaching third on a wild pitch from Vrana. Then, with one out and runners on the corners, Joe Rock brought him in with an RBI groundout to third for the 1-0 lead.

Another fine defensive play came in the top of the third when Jake Berry hit a two out single down the left field line but was thrown out by Slattery at second base trying to stretch it into a double.

The Jaspers looked for more in the fifth after getting the first two runners on with nobody out. Marist then turned to their bullpen as Jordan Eich came on to pitch getting one out before allowing a single to Kyle Murphy that loaded the bases. He was then pulled in favor of Kevin McCarthy who got Ramon Ortega to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Marist (15-11, 6-3 MAAC) tried to find the tying run with small ball in the sixth as Matt Pagano singled to lead off before being sacrificed over to second. They would be unable to bring that run home though as Zach Shank hit a sharp line drive to third where Murphy made a leaping catch before doubling up Pagano at second. Manhattan would drive in another run in the bottom half of the frame when Rock hit a two out single to centerfield scoring Slattery.

That would prove to be more than enough offense needed as McClennan (3-2) scattered six hits throughout the day with no walks and one strikeout despite hitting two batters. In the ninth Berry reached on a fielding error by first baseman Vin Teixeira  with one out but McClennan got the next batter to ground into a double play to end the game.

Vrana (2-1) got the loss for the Red Foxes pitching four plus innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits while walking five batters and striking out two.