Boxscore

PURCHASE, N.Y. – Freshman Hans Arias (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond) singled home two runs in the sixth inning as the Valiants battled back to defeat Freedom Conference pre-season favorite DeSales University, 9-3, in the conference opener at Manhattanville Field on Friday evening to begin the three-game set.

Junior Dan Fiorito (Yonkers, N.Y./Fordham Prep) continues to shine this season and led the team with three runs batted in, while senior Alex Braverman (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) and Arias had a pair of RBIs. Sophomore John Bucci (Port Chester, N.Y./Port Chester) and Braverman led the team with three hit each, as the Valiants rattled off 15 hits on DeSales starter David Drinks (1-3).

The Valiants led early in the contest, but a shaky top of the sixth inning, allowed the visitors back into the game.

Manhattanville took a 2-0 lead after the first inning, off a fielder's choice single by Fiorito that allowed Bucci to score and then and RBI single down the first base line by Braverman that scored Fiorito.

Pitching took over for the next two innings, as Manhattanville freshman starter Alex Basso (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Putnam Valley) retired nine of the first ten batters he faced, fanning five. DeSales cut the deficit with a run in the fourth inning off a fielder's choice RBI single by Doc Neiman.

Drinks settled down and allowed two runs through five innings and even had a small lead heading into the bottom of the sixth, 3-2. However, the Valiants exploded for three runs in the bottom of the inning and took a 5-3 edge. Braverman tied the contest with a double to right field that drops just to the side of Bulldogs' right fielder Carson Slonaker.  Braverman advanced to third off a hard shot single to short by sophomore Johnny LoVetere (Southbury, Conn./Canterbury). With runners in scoring position, Arias ripped a shot into the outfield and scored Braverman and LoVetere to take the lead.

The Valiants tacked on four more insurance with three coming in the seventh and one more in the eighth to take the six-run edge. Fiorito singled into the outfield and scored sophomore Sean Ferguson (Astoria, N.Y./Xavier) and Bucci, who singled earlier in the inning. Junior Chris Nardozzi (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) added to the Valiant lead with a single through the middle to score Fiorito from second.

Bucci gave the Valiants a six-run advantage in the eighth inning with an RBI single to right field, as the Valiants took the first of three games against DeSales.

Graduate Student Alex Mason (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Rye Neck) replaced Basso midway through the sixth inning and allowed just four hits in 3.2 innings of work for his second victory of the season. Basso once again impressed the coaching staff and struck out six batters over 5.1 innings on the mound in his first collegiate home game. The freshman was responsible for all three runs by the Bulldogs but just two were earned.

Drinks was dealt his third loss of the season in seven innings of action and allowed eight runs on 12 hits with three strikeouts.

Manhattanville (8-1, 1-0 Freedom) will complete the three-game set with DeSales tomorrow afternoon in Center Valley, Pa., tomorrow afternoon beginning at noon. Live stats will be available courtesy of DeSales University and can be found on GoValiants.com.