May 21, 2005
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Manhattan's John Fitzpatrick hit two homeruns to help the Jaspers to a 7-2 win over the Fairfield University baseball team in the season finale for the Stags Saturday afternoon at Alumni Diamond.
The loss drops Fairfield to 15-33 overall, and 13-14 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), while Manhattan improves 27-19 overall, and 15-8 in the MAAC. The Jaspers will play in next weekend's MAAC Tournament at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, N.Y.
Fairfield starter Ed Kamintzky and Manhattan's Josh Santerre were locked in a pitching dual early on, before Fairfield got to Santerre in the bottom of the fourth inning, pushing across a pair of runs.
Junior Tom Arpino (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then fellow classmate Doug Anderson (Randolph, N.J./Delbarton) laced a single to left centerfield, putting runners on the corners for senior David Soucy (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury). Soucy ripped a single to left center, plating Arpino.
Anderson went to third on Soucy's run scoring base hit, and when the Manhattan second baseman mishandled a freshman Brian Rudolph (Washington Township, N.J./Bergen Catholic) grounder, came home to make it 2-0 Fairfield.
But, in the top of the fifth, Manhattan tied the game after Kamintzky (4-6) gave up back-to-back walks to Phil Kuhner and John Maser. Eric Nieto's sacrifice-fly scored Kuhner, and Gary Diaz's single to center knotted the game up at 2-2.
It would remain that way, until the seventh inning, as Manhattan drew two walks, and Fitzpatrick's three-run homerun, gave the Jaspers the lead for good. Up until that point Kamintzky pitched well giving up only two runs on three hits, which included getting out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the sixth.
The sophomore lefty pitched seven innings, giving up five runs on four hits, and six walks. The Regis high graduate struck out five Jaspers on the day. Junior Dan Breen (Troy, N.Y./Troy) pitched the final two innings in his school-record 22 appearance of the season.
Manhattan would add two more runs with one in the eighth, and one in the ninth innings, making it 7-2.
Santerre (6-3) gave up two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two hitters. Kyle Wirtz pitched the final two innings for his third save of the season.
Fairfield was led by Anderson who went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Before the game, Fairfield honored its three graduating seniors, Tim Dugan Mark Geanuleas, and Soucy, in a short ceremony.
