Box Score WEST LAWN, Pa. – The Manhattanville baseball team fell into the loser's bracket of the MAC Freedom playoffs after dropping the opening round game 8-2 to DeSales University Saturday afternoon.
 
Sophomore Danny Gallagher (Nanuet, N.Y./Paramus Catholic) had two hits and scored a run for the Valiants in the losing effort.  Junior Chris Conklin (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland) added a hit and a run batted in for Manhattanville, and fellow classmate Robbie Lynch (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) drove in one.
 
DeSales (26-13 overall) jumped on the Valiants (24-15 overall) in the bottom of the first innings, sending 13 batters to the plate en route to seven first inning runs.  Two Manahttanville errors led to three unearned runs as the Bulldogs jumped out to an early seven run lead after the first frame.
 
After sophomore John Fanelli (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) worked out of the jam in the first, senior Julian Ponce (Port Chester, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) came on in relief in the second inning, giving the Valiants three innings of work in his longest outing of the season, allowing one run while striking out three.
 
Lynch drove in his 52nd run of the season in the top of the fourth with a sacrifice fly to plate sophomore Danny Gallagher (Nanuet, N.Y./Paramus Catholic) and make it a 7-1 game.  After the Bulldogs plated another run in the bottom half of the frame, the Valiants again chipped away with a single run in the fifth on an RBI double from junior Chris Conklin (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland).  The Valiants were unable to ride the momentum however, as starting pitcher Chris Polaski made a great catch on a line drive right back up the middle to end the inning with two runners on base.
 
Sophomore Danny Gallagher (Nanuet, N.Y./Paramus Catholic) closed out the game on the mound for the Valiants, tossing four innings without allowing a baserunner.  The right-hander struck out three batters while shutting down the Bulldog lineup, but the Valiant bats were unable to get going as Manhattanville dropped the opening contest 8-2.
 
The Valiants will now face King's College in an elimination game at 4:45 P.M.  Manhattanville will have to win their next four games to clinch their first conference title since 2010.  Fans can catch the action at GoValiants.com/Live.