Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y.- In their second of two games Friday at the 2011 Coca-Cola Classic, Manhattan (2-4) fell to host Winthrop University (4-5) 10-3 in Rock Hill, S.C.
After defeating Notre Dame 5-2 in the tournament opener, the Jaspers held a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning but gave up 10 unanswered runs to the Eagles in falling to 1-1 on the first day of action at Winthrop Ballpark.
The Jaspers got on the scoreboard early in the first after senior outfield Mark Onorati tripled to open the game for Manhattan. Following up the extra base hit, fellow sophomore outfielder Anthony Vega knocked him in with a groundout to shortstop to make it 1-0.
Using three scoreless opening frames from Manhattan sophomore southpaw Eric Luksis, who went 5 1/3 strong innings in recording a no-decision, the Jaspers would tack on another run to their lead in the fourth. After senior first baseman Austin Sheffield doubled to right center, sophomore shortstop Nick Camastro would send him home with a two-out single to right, making it 2-0.
Manhattan would take their largest lead in the top of the fifth when Onorati hit a lead off home run, his second of the season, to give the Jaspers a 3-0 lead. On the evening, the senior from Williston Park, N.Y. went 2-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
However, the Eagles would respond with the next ten runs to put the game away. After cutting the deficit to 3-1 after five frames, Winthrop would tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning after a sacrifice fly from Patrick Gamblin and a double by Matt Pierpont locked the game at 3-all.
In the next two innings, the Eagles would burn the Jaspers' bullpen, adding seven runs on six hits in recording the victory. Highlighting the offensive outburst was a pinch-hit two RBI single from Brett Thomas in the seventh inning and an RBI Single by Chase Crane in the eighth.
Winthrop reliever Eric Ruth (1-0) tossed three scoreless innings for the victory. Manhattan freshman Peter Cappiello (0-1) went 2/3 of an inning in the defeat.
The Jaspers will return to the diamond Saturday, when they take on Winthrop in a rematch of Friday's contest. First pitch is set for 10:30 a.m.
