Albany, N.Y. ? Ruben Perez knocked a two-RBI double down the left field line to break the tie and give Manhattan a 15-13 victory over UAlbany in 12 innings in non-conference baseball action at Varsity Field on Wednesday afternoon.

            Manhattan took a 13-9 lead with three runs in the eighth. Moran entered the game and, despite allowing a single by Pitcheralle, allowed the Jaspers to get through unscathed. UAlbany closer Alexander Beaulieu took the mound in the ninth and kept the Great Danes within striking distance going into the bottom half of the inning. UAlbany then recorded three consecutive singles with one out to load the bases. Jim Banks was hit by a pitch to bring in Adam Cutspec, who pinch ran for Mike Tirri. Sean Donovan was hit in the next at bat to bring home Kyle Crean before Gary Pitcheralle knocked a single to short to score Pete Eichner. The Great Danes tied the game at 13-13 with a sacrifice fly by Brendan Rowland to bring in Banks.

            The Great Danes got runners on base in the 10th for their best chance to score, but Moran induced three groundouts to keep Manhattan in the game. In the top of the 12th frame, Mark Onorati was hit by a pitch and Kevin Nieto singled up the middle to get runners on base before Perez recorded his second hit of the game to give the Jaspers the lead. Right hander Tom Moran, who tossed the final five innings for the Jaspers, shut down the UAlbany hitters in bottom half of the 12th to seal the win.

Both teams scored three runs in the first inning, with Mike McCann driving a home run to right center in the first at bat of the game and Anthony Armenio hitting a two run homer three batters later for Manhattan. Brendan Rowland hit an RBI single in the UAlbany half of the inning, scoring Donovan. Pitcheralle, who doubled to right center, scored on a throw by the catcher in an attempt to catch Rowland stealing second. Rowland later scored in the frame to tie the game at 3-3 after one.

            The Great Danes added single runs in the second and third to take a 5-3 lead before Manhattan cut it to one run with a run in the top of the fourth. The Jaspers took a one-run advantage with a two-RBI double by Austin Sheffield in the fifth, but UAlbany regained a 7-6 lead in the bottom half of the inning with two runs. The Jaspers scored four runs in the top of the sixth to get ahead 10-7 and held on to a slim advantage after UAlbany added two runs in the bottom half of the frame.

            Moran earned the win for Manhattan (29-12) with his five-inning performance, striking out three. Reliever Dave Noble took the loss for the Great Danes, allowing the final two runs to score in the game. Pitcheralle finished with four hits and two RBI while Crean and Eichner had three hits apiece.

            UAlbany (17-24) will return to action on Friday and Saturday, hosting Maine in a four-game America East Conference series.

-agate-

Manhattan (29-12)          300       124       030       002       -           15         20         2

UAlbany (17-24) 311       022       004       000       -           13         16         3

            Manhattan: Matt Jordan, Mike Tibbetts (3), Mike Giordano (6), Tom Moran (8) and Jamie Fitzgerald.

            UAlbany: Travis Wilson, Cory Warrings (4), Chris Hackett (6), Jeff Kaier (6), Chris Ott (8), Sean Gregory (8), Alexander Beaulieu (9), Dave Noble (11), Eric Cortland (12) and Ryan Gugel and Ralph Keppler.

Score by Innings                        R  H  E
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Manhattan College... 300 124 030 002 - 15 20  2
Albany.............. 311 022 004 000 - 13 16  3
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