After a rainout Friday at Topeka High, Manhattan High baseball split a doubleheader at Hayden on Tuesday, falling 4-2 in Game 1 before bouncing back with a 10-0 shutout behind Carter Goodpasture in the nightcap.
In the opener, Manhattan out-hit Hayden 8-6 but couldn’t capitalize in a 4-2 loss.
The Indians (3-1, 1-1) struck first in the opening inning when Brayson Gnirk delivered an RBI single to give Manhattan a 1-0 lead. Hayden responded in the second, stringing together hits to take a 2-1 advantage, then added two more runs later to create separation.
Manhattan stayed within striking distance, adding a run late, but couldn’t break through despite consistent traffic on the bases.
Gnirk took the loss despite a strong outing, allowing four runs on six hits over six innings while striking out nine and walking one.
Riland Boyer, Greyson Wassenberg and Gnirk each collected two hits to lead Manhattan, which finished with eight hits and no errors.
Game 2 told a different story, as Manhattan’s offense and pitching clicked in a 10-0 win.
The Indians got on the board early in the first inning with two runs, then added to the lead in the third behind a double from Jackson Goos and an RBI single from Mclain Aslin.
Manhattan continued to build separation throughout, scoring in multiple innings to pull away, eventually capped off by a three-run seventh inning.
Goos led the offense with four RBIs on a 2-for-4 game, while Sawyer Newton added two hits. Brayson Gnirk drew four walks as Manhattan showed patience at the plate as a team, finishing with 11 walks.
Goodpasture set the tone on the mound, tossing a complete-game shutout. He allowed just three hits while striking out nine and walking none.
Manhattan finished with eight hits and played clean defensively, committing no errors.
The Indians return home Saturday for their home opener against Olathe Northwest at the new CiCo Park fields. Last Friday’s matchup on the road at Topeka High was postponed, moved to Monday, April 27.