Pomona, N.Y. (May 6th, 2023) – Mount St. Mary's dropped game two to Manhattan 9-7. A competitive nine innings were fought by the Mountaineers after tallying 12 hits, including bringing the game within one run in the seventh. In the end, Manhattan was able to weather the storm and steal game two from the Mount.
The Jaspers strung together six runs in the second, third, and fourth innings which pushed the Mountaineers back on their heels. The Mount responded with three runs in the third and fourth innings to cut the deficit in half.
Josh Braxton started things off in the second with a single to center field. The speedster used his base running skills to steal second and put himself in scoring position. A few batters later
Shane Wockley stepped to the plate with bases loaded and found himself a single in center field allowing Braxton to score.
Jayson Kramer, who produced a two for three day at the plate, had his only miscue on a nicely hit sac fly to center field which allowed
Efrain Correa, Jr. to score.
A scoreless fifth inning took us into the sixth with a Manhattan lead, 6-3. Manhattan tacked on another run in the bottom of the frame putting the Mount in a corner. The Mountaineers strung together three runs in the seventh to make it a one run game and put pressure on the Jaspers at their home diamond.
Tyler Long led off the seventh inning with a single to left field.
Shane Wockley was walked the next batter which put runners on first and second.
Tristan McAlister reached on a fielder's choice, leading the bases for the Mount and bringing Kramer back up to the plate. Kramer stepped in the box and striped a single down the right field line which pushed Wockley and Long across the plate and advanced McAlister to third.
Aiden Tierney singled on a bunt allowing McAlister to score and bring his team within one, 7-6.
Mount St. Mary's gained one more in the eighth to make things real interesting starting off with a
Brady Drawbaugh single down the left field line.
Ty Stecko made an appearance after pinch hitting for Correa, Jr. and made the most of it as he doubled to the gap in left center on the first pitch he was thrown, advancing Drawbaugh to third.
Tyler Long pushed the run across the plate after grounding out to the shortstop, allowing Drawbaugh to score.
The Jaspers matched the Mountaineers in the eighth, putting themselves ahead two runs heading into the top of the ninth. The Mount couldn't piece together the two runs they needed to send this game into the bottom of the frame and possible extra innings.
The series concluding game will be played tomorrow at 3 p.m.
