Ashworth Five-Hitter Leads Stags Past Jaspers, 3-2
MAAC Sports
LAKEWOOD, N.J. – Heads up base running by freshman pinch runner Eric Fajardo, who scored the go ahead run in the bottom of the eighth, gave No. 3 seed Fairfield University a 3-2 victory over No. 6 seed Manhattan College in the first game of the 2014 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Baseball Championship on Wednesday, May 21, at FirstEnergy Park.
The Stags’ Sebastian Salvo reached on a two-out single to right in the bottom of the eighth, and then advanced to second on Jack Giannini’s base hit to left. Fajardo, who had appeared in 11 of Fairfield’s first 52 games this season, was inserted as a pinch runner for Salvo.
Manhattan hurler Joey Rocchietti then unleashed a wild pitch, advancing Giannini to second and Fajardo to third. Fajardo then took advantage of the situation by racing home with what proved to be the winning run, beating the throw home.
The Stags had taken an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Alex Witkus led off with a single, and advanced to second on Dean Sadik’s sacrifice bunt. Rob LoPinto’s long double down the left field line scored Sadik. The Stags then loaded the bases before Sebastian Salvo hit a sac fly to left to score LoPinto with the second run.
Manhattan tied the score with two runs in the top of the seventh. Chris Kalousdian led off with a double, and advanced to third on Jose Carrera’s base hit. A Christian Santisteban liner to left scored Kalousdian. Carrera then stole second and then tied the score on Brendan Slattery’s single.
The Jaspers (17-32) had a two-out threat in the top of the eighth when Chris Kalousdian reached on an error with two outs, and stole second. Carrerra stranded him with a sharp liner to right to end the inning. Manhattan had one last shot in the top of the ninth, but winning hurler EJ Ashworth retired the 4-5-6 hitters in order for the victory.
Ashworth scattered five hits and struck out five, allowing just two runs to earn the victory and improve to 6-2 on the year. Rocchietti was almost as effective, scattering seven hits with two strikeouts, yielding three runs as his record fell to 2-6.
Jake Salpietro was 2-for-4 for the Stags (31-22), while LoPinto had one hit, scored one run and collected an RBI.
Fairfield advances in the Championship and will face second-seeded Siena at noon on Thursday, May 22. Manhattan will face the loser of the second game May 21, 4th seed Quinnipiac vs. 5th seed Monmouth, on Thursday, May 22 at 3:30 p.m.