Box Score RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Saint Peter's ended its season with a 5-2 loss at Manhattan in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) baseball action on Saturday.
Trailing 5-2, the Peacocks (11-41, 6-17 MAAC) loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the ninth inning, but could not score. Rob Moore (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood) walked to open the inning before Chris Hugg (Ironia, N.J./Randolph) singled to center and Nick Henriquez (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) reached on an infield single to load the bases. The Jaspers (17-31, 11-13 MAAC) got out of the inning unscathed thanks to a strikeout, fielder's choice groundout and a fly out.
Kyle Grimes (Iselin, N.Y./John F. Kennedy Memorial) paced Saint Peter's with two hits and an RBI while Hugg and Henriquez each added two hits and a run scored.
The game also marked the final collegiate game for eight Peacock seniors. Seven of the eight seniors played on Saturday. Kevin Croucher (Wayne, N.J./DePaul Catholic), Ed Mejias (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township), Eric Mozeika (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) and Adam Purcilly (Troy, Mich./Avondale) each tossed an inning while Zach Hopf (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) got an at-bat and played some time at third base and Frank Morris (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman [Seton Hall]) played a couple innings at third base. Jim Smith (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) was the only senior not to make an appearance on the afternoon.
Brendan Slattery fueled Manhattan with two hits, three RBIs and a run scored.
The Jaspers scored the first five runs of the game and held off a bases load jam in the ninth to complete the three-game sweep.
Slattery got the scoring started for Manhattan with an RBI single down the right field line before Jose Carrera stole home as part of a double steal for a 2-0 lead after one inning.
The Jaspers increased the lead to 5-0 after scoring three times in the fifth. Slattery hit a two-run double to left center and Jason Patnick doubled home Slattery for the five-run lead.
Saint Peter's scored twice in the seventh to trim the margin to 5-2. Hugg reached on an error before Henriquez singled through the left side. Hugg scored on a failed pick off on Henriquez, who moved to second on the play and scored on Grimes' RBI single to left center. The Peacocks threatened in the ninth, but the game ended with Manhattan taking a 5-2 decision.
John Leiter (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) took the loss for the Peacocks.
Jon Kristoffersen (Jefferson, N.J./Jefferson Township) set a new single-season team record with 67 hits on the year and Hopf, who threw a complete-game on Thursday, will leave as the program's all-time leader in strikeouts, games started and innings pitched.
