NORFOLK, Va. (Interstat) — Vincent Samuel launched a go-ahead grand slam in a seven-run fourth inning, and the Manhattan Jaspers held off a late rally to defeat the Old Dominion Monarchs 10-7 on Wednesday afternoon and evening at Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.

The victory marked the first of the season for Manhattan, which improved to 1-3. Old Dominion evened its record at 2-2.

The game’s decisive sequence came in the top of the fourth, erasing what had been a one-run Old Dominion lead. The Jaspers sent 12 batters to the plate against two Monarchs relievers. Carson Vance started the rally with a solo home run to left-center field off reliever C. Cavalcant to tie the game.

Later in the inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Samuel connected on his second hit of the day, a towering grand slam to left field that cleared the bases and gave Manhattan a commanding 9-5 advantage. The Jaspers continued to pour it on, adding two more runs on an RBI double by Andreaus Lewis and a run-scoring single by Colin Baseshore before the inning ended.

Samuel finished 2 for 5 with a double, the home run and five RBIs, providing the bulk of Manhattan’s offensive firepower. The Jaspers racked up 14 hits in total, with Ryan Lordier going 3 for 4 with three stolen bases and three runs scored. Jackson Brinker added a two-run single in the ninth inning for important insurance runs.

Old Dominion had seized early momentum with a big swing of its own in the third inning. After two Manhattan errors extended the frame, T. Zedalis hit a two-out, grand slam to left field, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 5-1 lead. All four runs were unearned.

Manhattan chipped away with a run in the third on an RBI double from Samuel, setting the stage for the explosive fourth. The Monarchs attempted to rally, scoring once in the fifth on a double steal that allowed T. Aiken to swipe home, and once more in the ninth on a solo home run by W. Johnson. Old Dominion brought the tying run to the plate later in the ninth, but I. Epps induced a game-ending double play to secure the win for Manhattan.

The result defied pregame projections, as Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a 6-4 Old Dominion victory, and its ELO system gave the Monarchs a 79.6% probability to win.

Manhattan used five pitchers in the game, with S. Bronson earning the win in relief. Old Dominion starter E. Hubbell took the loss, charged with four runs over three-plus innings. The Monarchs’ bullpen struggled, surrendering six runs over the next two innings.

Manhattan next travels to face Norfolk State for a four-game series beginning Friday. Old Dominion will host Niagara for a three-game set starting the same day.