Box Score

Old Westbury, N.Y. (May 1, 2008) – Senior Mike LaLuna (Commack, N.Y.) scored the game winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning on a wild pitch during an intentional walk, as the Bears completed a wild comeback that saw them score four times in the bottom of the ninth inning to rally for a 10-9 win over Manhattan College this afternoon. The win is the second in a row for NYIT, who improves to 14-23-1 overall. Manhattan falls to 21-18-1 on the season with the loss.

Senior Bob Garland (Massapequa, N.Y.) started the rally in the bottom of the ninth inning, as he hit his first career homerun to lead off the inning and bring the Bears to within 9-7. A walk to junior Denten Neill (Wakefiled, Quebec), an infield single from Brian Smith (Nesconset, N.Y.), and a walk to LaLuna loaded the bases with no outs. Junior Joe Lucente’s (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) one out single scored Neill and Smith came home as the left fielders throw sailed all the way to the backstop to make it 9-9 ball game. The Jaspers brought in reliever Marc Nardotti with runners on second and third and decided to intentionally walk Jerry Smith. Nardotti threw high on the third intentional pitch and threw wide of the catcher on the fourth intentional pitch. LaLuna scored the winning run easily as the ball bounced to the backstop.

The Jaspers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning as NYIT starter freshman Preston Wasmund (Ajax, Ontario) hit Jose Behar and allowed a two-out, two run homer to Mike Diorio.

The Bears responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second as Lucente  and Jerry Smith led off the inning with back-to-back singles. They both moved up a base on sophomore Christian Dienna’s (Old Bethpage, N.Y.) sacrifice bunt. Sophomore George Carroll (Bayside, N.Y.) followed with an RBI groundout to score Lucente and senior Garland hit an RBI double down the left field line to score Smith to tie the game at 2-2.

The Jaspers came right back in the top of the third inning with two runs to grab a 4-2 lead. Wasmund allowed a lead off double to Louis Llerena, who moved to third on a sacrifice. Oronati followed with a walk and stole second to put runners on second and third with one out. Two runs came around to score, courtesy of twice NYIT errors. Austin Sheffield’s dribbler to the mound skipped through Wasmund’s legs and Neill fielded the ball but threw wide of first, allowing the runs to score.

Freshman Effrey Valdez (Flushing, N.Y.) hits his second homerun in as many days, a two run shot in the bottom of the fifth that tied the score at 4-4. Senior Mike LaLuna started the two-out rally with a double down the left field line and Valdez drove the second pitch of the at-bat over the left field fence.

The Jaspers regained the lead with four runs in the top of the seventh, highlighted by Mike McCann’s three run homer to give Manhattan a 7-4 lead. Sophomore Louie Bernardi (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) relieved Wasmund and allowed a two out RBI single to Sheffield to make the score 8-4.  

The Bears countered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull within 8-6. Garland led off with a bunt single and Neill followed with a double down the left field line. Garland came home on Brian Smith’s RBI groundout and Neill tagged up as LaLuna hit a sacrifice fly into foul territory in right field.

Manhattan’s Marc Onarati’s solo homerun off of reliever Frank Ryan (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) in the top of the eighth made the score 9-4.

Garland led the Bears offense going 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, and Brian Smith, Lucente and LaLuna all picked up two hits apiece. Ryan got the win, allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts in one inning of work.

Onorati paced the Jaspers with a 3-for-4 performance with three runs scored and an RBI.

The Bears return to action this weekend as they travel to Annapolis, Maryland for a three game series with the U.S. Naval Academy. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday.