PSU-Greater Allegheny Boxscore
Miami Hamilton Boxscore

COCOA BEACH, FLA. – The defending Freedom Conference Champions started their title defense with a pair of non-conference victories on the first day of their Spring Break Trip. In the first game of the trip, the Valiants defeated PSU-Greater Allegheny, 4-3, and then defeted Miami Hamilton, 4-3 in the final game on Saturday.

Senior Alex Braverman (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) went 4-of-7 on the day with a double to lead the Valiant offense. Sophomore Johnny LoVetere (Southbury, Conn./Canterbury) led the squad with three runs batted in on the day, including a pair against Miami Hamilton. Senior Chad Wallace (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) and sophomore John Bucci (Port Chester, N.Y./Port Chester) contributed on the two other Valiant RBIs in the contest against PSU-Greater Allegheny.

The Valiants pitching staff was effective on the first day of active play as both starters picked up victories. Freshman Alex Basso (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Putnam Valley) pitched six strong scoreless innings for his first collegiate victory. Graduate Student Alex Mason (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Rye Neck) recorded the save after surrendering a run in the bottom of the ninth. Junior AJ Marini threw five scoreless innings in the victory over Miami Hamilton. Senior Justin Gray (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) picked up his first save of the season, in his first game since missing all of 2010 with an injury.

The Valiants scored in the first and second inning of the opening contest, as LoVetere scored Wallace on a groundout with the bases loaded. In the second frame, Wallace singled to centerfield and scored sophomore Matt Petrunti (East Granby, Conn./Loomis-Chaffee) who sent a two-out single to right field.

Manhattanville added more runs in the fourth and eighth inning off a Bucci double in the fourth and double-steal in the eighth that allowed Braverman to steal home.

In the second game of the day, the Valiants scored twice in the third inning and cruised to the victory. LoVetere sent a two-out single into the outfield allowing Wallace and junior Dan Fiorito (Yonkers, N.Y./Fordham Prep) to score.

Manhattanville (2-0, 0-0 Freedom) will get back on the diamond tomorrow and will take on Rochester at 10 a.m. and then Alice Lloyd at 1:30 p.m.