Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Jaspers' ace John Soldinger struck out eight Terps and turned over a one run lead to the bullpen in the eighth inning, but Manhattan (1-4) could not close the door on #20 Maryland (6-1) falling 3-2 in a ninth inning walk-off comeback. Maryland got to senior reliever Taylor Sewitt who hit Terps' sophomore second baseman Kyle Convissar with the bases loaded to allow the game tying run, and then senior designated hitter Ryan Holland singled in the game winning run at Bob "Turtle" Smith ballpark in College Park, Md. on Friday.
Soldinger was rolling on the hill against the ACC opponent as he yielded only two hits without an earned run in seven strong innings of work. It was the second straight superb performance the junior right-hander from Bay Shore, N.Y. delivered against a non-conference power as he has maintained a 1.29 ERA with 15 strikeouts in his first two starts.
The Terps hit the scoreboard first in the third inning when a two-out error allowed senior catcher Aaron Etchison to score. Etchison singled to lead off the inning, and four batters later he came across home plate on an error at first base.
Manhattan scored runs in the next two innings to claim a 2-1 advantage. In the fourth inning, sophomore second baseman Yoandry Galan got the frame started with a lead off double. Jaspers' sophomore right fielder Andrew Gorecki pushed him in for the game tying run with a sacrifice fly. Then in the fifth inning a throwing error plagued the Terps as junior outfielder Anthony Vega got on base to lead off the inning. Jaspers' senior first baseman Matt Troisi got Vega across home plate with a fielder's choice to give Manhattan a one run advantage.
Soldinger retired six of the next seven batters, which included three strikeouts, before turning the ball over to Sewitt. The right-hander from Highland Mills, N.Y. worked through the eighth inning as Maryland left the bases loaded after Sewitt struck out junior outfielder Jordan Hagel and got freshman third baseman K.J. Hockaday to line out. But Sewitt could not escape trouble in the ninth inning as the first three batters reached base to set the stage for the Terps game-winning surge.
Manhattan continues its four-game set with Maryland on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
