FISHKILL, N.Y. - Tournament Most Valuable Player Eric Nieto went 2-for-5 with a two-run triple to lead Manhattan to its first-ever MAAC Baseball Championship 7-3 over top-seeded Le Moyne. The Jaspers (32-21) head to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1957, while regular season conference champion Le Moyne closes out its season at 38-14.
Manhattan used a five-run fifth inning and a strong pitching performance from Josh Santerre. Santerre (3-4) limited Le Moyne, the top hitting team in the MAAC, to three runs (two earned) on seven hits in eight innings of action.
Manhattan jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Nieto led off the top of the first with a single. He moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Mike Garcia single through the right side.
Le Moyne starter A.J. Lindsey (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) limited the Jaspers to two runs over the first four innings, but ran into trouble in the top of the fifth. Making his first collegiate start, Lindsey (4-2) allowed a leadoff single to Ryan Marcoux in the fifth and walked No. 9 hitter Nunzio Franzese with one out. After four and 1/3 innings of action, Lindsey's longest career outing, head coach Steve Owens summoned freshman Eric Beaulac (Troy, N.Y./Troy) from the bullpen. Nieto greeted Beaulac with an opposite field two-run triple to put the Jaspers ahead 4-1. Manhattan plated three more runs in the inning to take a 7-1 lead.
Le Moyne loaded the bases with none out in the seventh, but Santerre fanned designated hitter Brian Hansen (Endicott, N.Y./Chenango Valley), induced an RBI groundout to pinch hitter Chris Haynes (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) and retired Keith Connors (Jamesport, N.Y./Commack) to escape the jam with just one run allowed.
All-tournament team member Stephen Crawford (Webster, N.Y./Finger Lakes CC) doubled and scored Le Moyne's third run in the bottom of the eighth. Crawford, Michael Affronti (Dix Hills, N.Y./Commack) and Jamie Rose (Hornell, N.Y./Hornell) were named to the all-tournament team.
Le Moyne completes its season with a program-record 38 wins.