UAlbany handles Manhatten to seal third consecutive series victory
ALBANY, NY » The Great Danes scored four runs in the first inning behind five-straight walks to lead off the game in an 8-3 victory against Manhattan.
“Rubber games are typically won by the team that plays fundamental defense,” said Albany Head Coach Jon Mueller. “After a sloppy second game yesterday we responded with a strong defensive effort today. Neither team hit much but we needed to answer the bell today if we wanted a series win. The team figured it out today and won our third consecutive series. We have a long way to go and we will get back at it Tuesday to tighten up the necessary areas.”
UAlbany walked a seasonhigh 12 times in the game, including the first-five at bats of the game. Eight-of nine UAlbany starters walked and four had two walks. Dolan Ocasal hit 2-3 with two runs and two
walks.
Manhattan starter Jacob Knight (L, 1-1) walked the first four hitters of the afternoon, leading to four runs, and was pulled before recording an out.
The University at Albany baseball team defeated Manhattan, 8-2, in game three to win the weekend series in New Rochelle, New York. The game featured a season-high 12 Great Dane walks, leading to four runs before even recording a hit.
The first five UAlbany hitters walked to start the game, four of those by Manhattan starting pitcher Jacob Knight, before he was pulled. The Great Danes took a 2-0 lead before hitting a ball in play. Nick Kondo’s RBI groundout was the first ball in play and Alex Thul scored on a wild pitch the next at bat, giving UAlbany a 4-0 lead in the first without recording a hit.
Anthony Germinerio pitched a 1-2-3 inning and no runs were scored in the second inning. Germinerio ran into his first trouble allowing a walk and single to lead off the bottom of the third inning. He retired the runner on second base with a pickoff and the hitter followed with a double play groundout.
Despite having four runs, the Great Danes did not record their first hit until a Matt Soloman double in the fourth inning. Josh Loeffler advance to third on the play and scored on a fielder’s choice to give UAlbany a 5-0 lead.
Germinerio gave up a leadoff walk, followed by an RBI double that cut the Great Dane lead to 5-1. He walked the next hitter after the double but got a double play and groundout to limit the damage.
After a 1-2-3 top of the fifth inning, Germinerio ran into trouble again. With two outs and a runner on first base, he hit the next two batters, loading the bases. Kenny McLean relieved Germinerio and recorded a bases loaded strikeout.
In the sixth inning, Loeffler’s leadoff walk was the 10th UAlbany walk of the afternoon but he was the only baserunner of the inning.
Dolan Ocasal recorded the second UAlbany hit of the afternoon in the seventh inning but after Brad Malm was hit by a pitch,
Alex Thul grounded into a double play. In the bottom half, McLean recorded his second-straight hitless inning.
In the eighth inning, UAlbany’s only runner reached on an error but was left of base. In the bottom half with two outs, McLean gave up his first hit of the day. During another single the next at bat, Sam Franco, who had the first hit, was thrown out trying to advance to third.
The Great Danes added three more insurance runs in the ninth inning when Malm drove in Ocasal with an RBI double, Kondo walked with the bases loaded and Loeffler was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, giving UAlbany an 8-1 lead.
Joe Kruszka relieved McLean in a non-save situation in the bottom of the ninth and walked three hitters and allowed one run before sealing the 8-2 UAlbany victory. McLean picked up his team-leading third win of the season.