Manhattan Defeats Monmouth 12-8 in Game 1 of the 2016 Baseball Championship
MAAC Sports
FISHKILL, NY – No. 6 Manhattan defeated No.3 Monmouth, 12-8, in game 1 of the 2016 MAAC Baseball Championship. Manhattan advances in the winner’s bracket to face top-seeded Fairfield tonight at 7:00pm, while Monmouth will play tomorrow at 3:30pm against the loser of game 2 between No.4 Canisius and No.5 Marist in an elimination game.
In the bottom half of the third inning, Monmouth got on the board first scoring three runs on four hits. It wouldn’t take long for Manhattan to respond to the deficit, recording a six run rally in the top of the fourth. The rally got started on a two-run homer by Jason Patnick, cutting the deficit to 3-2. The go-ahead run came on a two-run triple by Jose Carrera, giving the Jaspers a 4-3 lead that they would not relinquish.
Manhattan would add two more runs in the top of the fifth, extending the lead to 8-3, but Monmouth responded with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the fifth staying within three runs at, 8-5, heading into the sixth inning.
In the bottom half of the sixth, Monmouth got to within two runs, cutting the deficit to 8-6, before Manhattan would add two more runs in top of the eighth and two in the top of the ninth to take a commanding 12-6 advantage into the bottom of the ninth. Monmouth didn’t go away quietly, putting together a two-run ninth inning to close out the game at 12-8.
Manhattan starting pitcher Tom Cosgrove earned the decision, while Shawn Kanwisher picked up the save in 3.0 innings of relief.
The 2016 MAAC Baseball Championship is a double-elimination style tournament. The championship game takes place on Saturday, May 28 at noon with the, if necessary game taking place at 3:30 p.m.
The winner of the 2016 MAAC Baseball Championship will earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship. The NCAA Baseball Selection Show will be on Monday, May 30 on ESPNU at noon.
For all up to date information on the 2016 MAAC Baseball Championship, visit maacsports.com/baseball