TEANECK, NJ — With Mother Nature not a factor on Sunday at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex, the Jaspers rolled to a series sweep over Saint Peter's by closing out game one, 4-3, and using a 2-run double from Aidan Taclas to walk off game three by a final margin of 2-1. The Jaspers are on their longest winning streak of the season with four victories in a row.
GAME TWO (MANHATTAN 4 | 3 SAINT PETER'S)
- Finishing Saturday's rain-suspended game, the Jaspers closed the door on the Peacocks, getting one out from lefty Nate Rhylick to seal the win.
- Tyler Smith walked for the Peacocks before Rhylick induced a groundout from Tyler DeClusin to end it.
- On Saturday at Clover Stadium, Hunter Sute drilled a two-run home run in the third inning to stake out an early lead for the Jaspers.
- After Saint Peter's got one back in the fourth inning, the Jaspers answered with another run in the fifth on a double play groundout from Sute.
- Saint Peter's added two in the sixth to tie the score before the contest was paused in the ninth due to the rain.
GAME THREE (MANHATTAN 2 | SAINT PETER'S)
- Aidan Taclas' latest heroics came in the ninth as his double scored Guriyandel Salva from second and Ryan Lordier from first. Lordier reached on a fielder's choice bunt, which pushed Salva to second and resulted in the out at third on Dylan Mayer.
- The Jaspers' only other hit off Mike DiForte came on a bunt single from Mayer in the third inning.
STATS AND NOTES
- After losing all three to Saint Peter's last season, Manhattan clinched the series sweep over the Peacocks this season.
- The sweep is the Jaspers first undefeated three-game conference series since 2019 versus Saint Peter's.
- The Jaspers' current win streak is its longest since copping five straight last season.
- Taclas batted .512 (5-12) in the three-game set versus Saint Peter's. The junior right fielder homered on Friday and continued his magic into Sunday with the walk-off double.
- After going 2-4 with two RBIs and two doubles on Friday, Lordier finished game two 2-3 at the plate.
- The California combination of Lordier and Taclas are now batting .333 and .331, respectively, in their first seasons for the Kelly Green and White.
- Chris Fidanza secured the win in game two after pitching 3.2 innings of one-run ball before play was halted in the ninth inning. Fidanza had two outs and 3-0 count on Tyler Smith at the time.
- Working in relief for Fidanza on Sunday, Nate Rhylick secured his third scoreless appearance of the season and his first since the Lafayette game in March.
- Joe Duffield impressed in game three, hurling seven innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts.
- Andrew Castellucio clinched the win in relief by throwing two scoreless innings while conceding only one hit.
- Manhattan sits in eighth place at 10-13 in MAAC play and currently occupy the final playoff spot
QUOTES FROM MANHATTAN
Manhattan interim head coach Steven Rosen on persevering through the rain suspension: "I'm proud of the boys resilience today to secure two tough wins - especially with the context in resuming game two. To pick up this morning in the ninth inning of yesterday's game needing to get the hardest out, get the job done - and then turn around in twenty minutes and play at such a high level for another 27 outs, that was impressive by them."
Rosen on honoring the seniors: "Happy for the seniors to secure three wins on a weekend in which we honored them for their hard work and dedication to Manhattan Baseball. Truly appreciate Ryan Ash, Nico Mattera, Ryan McLaughlin, and Andreaus Lewis for their commitment to our program."
NEXT UP
The surging Jaspers (18-26, 10-13 MAAC) will return to the diamond for a three-game set next weekend vs. Marist (19-23, 11-11 MAAC). The location for the home series is to be determined.
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