Box Score JERSEY CITY, N.J.- In a pitchers' duel between both starting hurlers, it came down to a walk-off base hit by freshman Jon Kristoffersen (Jefferson, N.J./Jefferson Township High School) to lead the Saint Peter's University baseball team to a 3-2 win over Manhattan College in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action Sunday afternoon.
Kristoffersen finished 2-for-4 in the win and drove in half of the Peacocks' (14-25, 7-8 MAAC) runs.
Right-handed pitcher Zach Hopf (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) out-dueled Manhattan starter Michael Martin; tossing a complete game. Hopf allowed two runs (one earned) over nine innings, while scattering four hits and one walk and striking out eight.
Manhattan's (19-23, 8-10 MAAC) Martin went 4.2 innings and allowed just one run on five hits to receive the no-decision.
Matt Jordan received the loss in relief.
With runners on the corners, Kristoffersen came to the plate and delivered the game-winning hit to deep right field in the ninth. Freshman Robert Moore (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood High School) led off the frame with a single down the left field line. Nick Cardamone (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township High School) pinch ran for Moore and scored the go-ahead run. In a pinch-hit appearance, Brian Schroeder (Iselin, N.J./JFK-Iselin) singled through the right side to set the stage for Kristoffersen's heroics.
The Peacocks started off the scoring in the fifth, after a stalemate through the first four innings. With one out, William Rawson (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) blasted a triple to right center and scored in the next at bat on a double by Kristoffersen.
Manhattan would tie the score in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Ortega, but Saint Peter's regained their advantage two innings later.
Senior Matt Speckmann (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Mancini (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North). A groundout by Nicholas Henriquez (Paramus, NJ / Paramus) moved Speckmann to third before a Jasper error on a groundout by Chris Grimes allowed the go-ahead run to cross home.
The Peacocks had the chance to finish the game in the top of the ninth, as Hopf struck out the first batter of the inning, but a solo homer by Ramon Ortega forced the hosts to go to bat in the bottom of the half before securing the win.
Saint Peter's finished with ten hits to Manhattan's four. Eight different Peacocks recorded a hit, with Kristoffersen getting two.
The Peacocks return to Jaroschak Field this Tuesday for a non-conference matchup against New Jersey rival Seton Hall at 3:30pm.
