NEW YORK (Interstat) — Justin Best hit a three-run homer in the first inning and the Manhattan Jaspers held on to defeat the Canisius Golden Griffins 7-5 on Friday in the first game of a doubleheader.

Manhattan improved to 15-22, while Canisius fell to 13-22.

Best finished 1 for 4 with the homer and three RBIs. His drive to right field in the bottom of the first scored Ryan Lordier and Guriyandel Salva, staking the Jaspers to a 3-0 lead.

The Jaspers added a run in the fourth on an RBI single by Andreaus Lewis, who went 2 for 5. Manhattan extended the lead to 6-1 with two runs in the fifth. Hunter Sute singled and came home on a double by Jackson Brinker, who drove in one run and went 1 for 3. Trevor Hansen, who singled, later scored on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded.

Canisius answered with two runs in the sixth. Andrew Marcello tripled to left center, scoring Brayden Hy and Blake Herman, cutting the lead to 6-3.

The Jaspers added an insurance run in the eighth. Lordier singled, stole second and moved to third on a flyout. Vincent Samuel singled to the pitcher, driving in Lordier to make it 7-3. Samuel finished 1 for 4 with an RBI.

The Golden Griffins mounted a comeback in the ninth. Bennett Cox singled and Eric Weeks homered to left field, scoring Cox to pull within 7-5. But Grady Brown lined out to third to end the game.

Weeks went 1 for 4 with two RBIs and the homer. Cox was 3 for 4 with an RBI. Marcello had two hits, including the triple, and two RBIs.

Manhattan starter Jackson Klein pitched 5⅓ innings, allowing six hits and one earned run with eight strikeouts. He did not factor in the decision. Braeden Romero earned the win in relief.

Canisius starter Joe LoPinto lasted 4⅓ innings, giving up six runs – five earned – on nine hits. Weston Elkovitch took the loss.

Manhattan outhit Canisius 12-11. The Jaspers also took advantage of two Canisius errors.

The teams were scheduled to play the second game of the doubleheader later Friday.