In a final tune-up before the last weekend of league play—which promises to be chock-full of drama—Columbia baseball dropped a pair of afternoon games at home to Manhattan, 4-1 and 8-4. The Lions (10-29, 6-10 Ivy) knew that the two seven-inning matchups did not affect Ivy League standings and, importantly, will go into the weekend series against Penn with rested arms. Eight different pitchers saw action against Manhattan, and only one for more than two innings of work (Derek Squires, loser of game one, threw for three frames).
Columbia’s defensive woes in game one were largely to blame for the afternoon’s first defeat. Mike McCann, batting leadoff for the Jaspers, got his team on the board early. After singling to right in the top of the first, McCann moved to second on a passed ball and to third on a sacrifice fly. He scored when center fielder Kevin Nieto grounded out to short.
The Light Blue got that one right back in the bottom of the inning when number two hitter Nick Cox doubled down the left-field line with a full count and came around on Alex Aurrichio’s run-scoring base hit with two out.
The Jaspers got to Squires again in the third despite a couple of nice fielding plays for the Lions. After Manhattan put men on first and second with no outs, Mark Onorati laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Lions catcher Dean Forthun was ready, pouncing on the dribbler and nailing lead runner Will DeRuve at third for the first out. The Light Blue then failed to complete a double play when Eisen, at second base, threw wildly to first, and the Jaspers were able to plate the go-ahead run. They added another one on Anthony Armenio’s RBI double. Squires departed after the inning, a hard-luck loser after going three innings and allowing three runs (none earned).
The Jaspers closed out the scoring with their fourth run when Ruben Perez homered off Alex Ferrera in the top of the sixth.
Meanwhile, Zac Goyer was cruising on the mound for the Jaspers en route to his fourth win of the year, limiting the Lions to six hits and one run in his seven-inning complete-game effort. Columbia managed a single baserunner in each of the last three innings, but couldn’t string together enough offense to seriously threaten a comeback.
The Lions fell behind early again in game two and were ultimately unable to overcome a 5-0 third-inning deficit. Chad Salem got things going for Manhattan in the first with a two-run homer off Columbia starter Max Lautmann, who took the loss after allowing three runs in two innings of work. The Jaspers would add another run in the second and two more in the third before the Lions plated one in each of four straight innings, starting in the bottom of the third. Billy Rumpke’s solo shot in the sixth provided the Light Blue’s offensive highlight of the day, but by that point Manhattan already had eight runs on the board and the game was out of reach.
Although yesterday’s losses were disheartening, the Lions are still alive in league play. They will just need flawless play and a little bit of luck this weekend when they take on Penn Saturday at noon.
