PONCE, PR – The Manhattan Jaspers Baseball team (0-2) dropped its second game of the season to the Pirates of Seton Hall University (1-1) by a score of 7-2 inside Estadio Francisco Montaner on Saturday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Before the contest started, Director of Athletics, Irma Garcia threw out the first pitch, and catching was the native Puerto Rican in Guriyandel Salva.
Making his seventh career start as a Jasper was Braeden Romero, who put together six quality starts during his first year donning the Green and White.
The Jaspers got on the board first with Justin Best providing a double down the right field line that brought home Payton Matthews from second. The bottom of the first inning opened with Matthews and Vincent Samuel both logging walks.
With the Pirates threatening and scoring the tying run off a base knock into centerfield, Andreaus Lewis earned his second pick off as he caught Seton Hall’s Lopez stealing second across the way. Romero then struck out the next batter to end any further threat by Seton Hall.
Fast forward to the home half of the eighth inning with the Jaspers trailing, the Green and White were able to take advantage of the Pirates’ miscues with Jeremy Sosa knocking one into center field to score Aidan Katzman from second base to bring its deficit to just four runs.
The Jaspers had the bases loaded, but a near 90 minute rain delay took the momentum out of both teams’ legs. Upon their return to the field, the Jaspers could not advance either of the runners with Matthews grounding out to the opponent’s second baseman to close out the inning.
STATS AND NOTES
Graduate catcher Andreaus Lewis paced the Jaspers with a 2-for-2 evening with a pair of base knocks. Lewis also worked two walks in the game, while swiping his first base of the campaign.
Guriyandel Salva provided a 2-for-4 afternoon with one walk, but struck out once against the Pirates in his native backyard.
Outfielder Jeremy Sosa supplied an RBI single with one walk.
Outfielder Justin Best went 1-for-5 with an RBI double.
The Jaspers led the way from the base path with six walks on the afternoon, but left 11 runners on base, compared to the Pirates’ eight.
Both Braeden Romero and Hudson Pergamit combined for 10 strikeouts, while allowing nine hits in eight total innings between the two.
Arnav Ghuliani came in relief in the ninth inning and fanned two in seven batters faced.
NEXT UP
Manhattan concludes its stay in the 2026 Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge tomorrow, Sunday, February 15, against the Cougars of the University of Houston inside Estadio Francisco Montaner beginning at 9 a.m. (ET). The contest can be viewed on Victory Plus with a free subscription.
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