Cold, Wet Start Awaits Manhattan and Marist in Poughkeepsie

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (Interstat) — A chilly, wet evening is forecast for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener between Manhattan and Marist on Friday at James J. McCann Baseball Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. in conditions expected to be rainy with a temperature of 38 degrees.

The Jaspers (5-5) enter conference play at .500, having split a four-game road set at Maryland-Eastern Shore last weekend. Manhattan took the series opener 15-5 on Feb. 28 and won the finale 6-4 in 10 innings on March 1, but dropped the middle two games.

A player to watch for Manhattan is Jacob Smoot, who tossed four hitless, scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts in the 6-4, 10-inning victory on Sunday.

The Marist Red Foxes (0-10) are seeking their first win of the season after a difficult non-conference slate. Marist was swept in four games at Purdue last weekend, culminating in an 18-1 loss on Sunday. Reliever Hayden Neihoff provided a brief bright spot in that game, recording two outs without allowing a hit.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-0 victory for Manhattan in the series opener.

The teams are scheduled to continue the three-game series on Saturday and Sunday in Poughkeepsie.