Boxscore Game 1
Boxscore Game 2

PURCHASE, N.Y. - Freshman Alex Basso (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Putnam Valley) pitched his first collegiate complete game as the Valiants baseball team split a doubleheader, taking game one, 2-1, over Freedom Conference rivals Eastern University at Manhattanville Field on a pleasant Saturday afternoon.

The 2-1 victory was the lowest scoring margin since April 1, 2007 against then Skyline Conference rival Mount St. Mary's.  The offense picked up in game two, but the Eagles left Purchase with a, 5-4, victory despite a four-run sixth inning attack by the Valiants and a two-run home run by sophomore John Bucci (Port Chester, N.Y./Port Chester).

Senior Alex Braverman (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) and Bucci led the team with a pair of runs batted in, with Braverman scoring a run in each game. Graduate Student Joe Gallace (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) led team with four hits, two in each contest, and junior Dan Fiorito (Yonkers, N.Y./Fordham Prep) had three hits in the second game. Manhattanville as a team finished with 14 hits on the day, compared to the 11 hits by Eastern.

Eagles starting pitcher Mike McNulty was nearly as effective as Basso, but the Eagles pitcher faulted in the first inning, allowing both runs early on.  McNulty finished the game with a complete game on this losing side, pitching six innings allowing five hits with four strikeouts, but did allow two runs.  Basso, on the other hand, picked up his third victory of the season and second in Freedom Play at home.  The freshman gunslinger allowed six hits and struck out nine Eagles.

The Manhattanville runs came in the bottom of the first inning, as junior Chris Nardozzi (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) doubled to center field to score Gallace, who doubled down the left field line to begin the inning. The second run of the game for the host came off a single by Braverman that scored Fiorito.

Eastern cut the lead in half with an RBI single by Joel Rios that scored Kristian Cortizo who led off with a single to center field. In the final inning, The Valiants fought out of trouble, as the Eagles loaded the bases on two hit by pitches and a single. With one out and three runners on, Basso struck out Andre' Butler and forced Rios to fly out to Bucci in left to give him the victory.

In the second game of the three-game series, Eastern scored all five runs by the fourth inning, which forced the Valiants to make a late-inning comeback but a judgment call by the umpire halted the opportunity to take the lead.

In the fifth inning, trailing 5-0, freshman Hans Arias (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond) was on third base with one out after reaching on a fielder's choice. A short fly ball by sophomore Sean Ferguson (Astoria, N.Y./Xavier) appeared to drop under the glove of the Eagles' centerfielder, but the umpire called a catch on the play which doubled-up Arias who was called for tagging-up to early.

However, the Valiants bounced back for four runs on five hits in the sixth inning, as Bucci sent a blast over the left field fence. With runners at first and third, Braverman reached on a fielder's choice that scored Fiorito from third. Trailing 5-3, senior Chad Wallace (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) singled to score Braverman to make it a one-run game.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Valiants had a runner in scoring position after Fiorito singled to left field and then reached second base on a steal. Eagles' reliever John Taylor got Nardozzi to ground out to the first baseman to end the game.

Graduate Student Alex Mason (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Rye Neck) took the loss in the game and threw a complete game, surrendering five runs on eight hits with four strikeout and two walks.  Jim Edelman got the victory for Eastern throwing five innings and was responsible for all four runs on seven hits. His replacement John Taylor finished the final two innings and was credited with the save.

Manhattanville (11-5, 3-3 Freedom) will complete the three-game Freedom Conference series with Eastern (6-11-1, 2-6 Freedom) in St. David's, Pa., at 2 p.m.