Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan baseball team fell behind three runs in the first two innings and could not recover as the Jaspers fell 4-2 to SEC power Tennessee on Friday in Knoxville. Jaspers' starter John Soldinger pitched his second consecutive complete game as Manhattan (2-6) dropped the first contest of a four game set with the Vols.
Tennessee (10-2) worked Soldinger for two walks in the first inning, before junior outfielder Charley Thurber drove in the Vols' first run with a two-out single to left field. The Vols extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second inning after senior second baseman Khayyan Norfork delivered an RBI single, and then senior third baseman Matt Duffy was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the second run of the frame.
Jaspers' third baseman Chad Salem gave Manhattan a lift in the third inning when he capitalized on a two-out, bases loaded opportunity. Salem, Manhattan's RBI leader (13), drove in two runs with a single to send home freshmen Mikey Miranda and Yoandry Galan bringing the Jaspers within 3-2 of Tennessee.
Vols' starter Steven Gruver settled in after the third inning and would only allow the Jaspers three more hits before he retired the final 10 Manhattan batters in order to earn the complete game victory. Thurber gave Gruver an insurance run in the fifth inning with a double down the left field line to send Tennessee ahead 4-2. Gruver, a junior lefty from Canfield, Ohio, struck out six in the contest to earn his third victory of the season.
After giving up the fourth run of the contest in the fifth inning against the powerful Tennessee lineup, which entered the game averaging 8.0 runs per contest, Soldinger found his groove and yielded just three hits the rest of the way. The Bay Shore, N.Y. native struck out two batters in his first loss of the year.
Manhattan designated hitter Ramon Ortega recorded two of the Jaspers' five hits against Gruver. Jaspers' outfielder Mike McCann and Miranda each singled in the contest.
The Jaspers and Vols return to action on Saturday for a doubleheader at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
