Game 6: #2 Manhattan 7, #1 Le Moyne 3 |
Box ScoreFishkill, N.Y. -- Manhattan College (32-21) earned the league's automatic bid to the 2006 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship with a 7-3 victory over Le Moyne College (38-14), in the title game of the 2006 Anaconda Sports MAAC Baseball Championship at Dutchess Stadium.
Manhattan made its mark on the scoreboard first with one run in the top of the first inning as Mike Garcia singled through the right side to plate Eric Nieto. The Jaspers then took a 2-0 lead in the fourth, with Matt Rizzotti crossing home plate on a double to left field by John Fitzpatrick.
Le Moyne would not go unheard, posting one run in the bottom of the fourth, as Mike Affronti scored on a groundout by Ben Gaal.
Manhattan went on to add five more runs to its total in the fifth, starting with Nieto knocking a triple to center field to bring in Ryan Marcoux and Nunzio Franzese. Nick Derba then scored on Mike Garcia's triple to right field, and Garcia plated home on a single to third base from Rizzotti. Rizzotti recorded another run on single by Dom Lombardi as the Jaspers earned their first league title in school history.
Le Moyne scored once more in the seventh as Phil St. Amant crossed home plate on a groundout by pinch hitter Chris Haynes. The Dolphins' final run of the game came as Steve Crawford scored on a groundout by Affronti.
Manhattan's Josh Santerre improved to 3-4 with the win. Le Moyne's A.J. Lindsey finished the year at 4-2 on the mound.
The 2006 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship 64-team bracket, with first-round regional pairings and site assignments, will be revealed in a live, half-hour telecast on ESPN at 12:30 p.m. EST on Monday, May 29.
2006 MAAC All-Tournament Team
Infield:
Andrew MacNevin, Niagara
Steve Crawford, Le Moyne
Michael Affronti, Le Moyne
Dom Lombardi, Manhattan
Nick Derba, Manhattan
Outfield:
Jeff Vincent, Niagara
Jamie Rose, Le Moyne
Eric Nieto, Manhattan
Designated Hitter/Utility:
John Fitzpatrick, Manhattan
Pitchers:
Bobby Blevins, Le Moyne
Chris Cody, Manhattan
MOP: Eric Nieto, Manhattan