Boxscore

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – King's (Pa.) left fielder Chris Sweeney had a career day at the plate going 5-for-5 with three home runs and six runs batted in as the hosts easily defeated a depleted Manhattanville baseball team, 13-3, on a warm Monday afternoon at Lipo Field.

Despite 13 hits and an early 2-0 lead, the Valiants were unable to muster much offense after the first inning and left eight runners on base. Graduate student Joe Gallace (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) led his squad with three hits and had a first-inning RBI ground out. Junior Dan Fiorito (Yonkers, N.Y./Fordham Prep) gave the Valiants a first-inning RBI as well on a single to center field.  

Grad student Alex Mason (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Rye Neck) was roughed up in 5.1 innings, allowing nine runs on 15 hits. Mason (4-3) struck out three batters, but allowed all three home runs to Sweeney and was replaced by senior Justin Gray (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham), who allowed four runs on six hits in 2.2 innings of relief.

Levi Tate pitched six innings for the Monarchs and allowed two runs on eight hits for his second victory of the season. Joey Troxell and Pete Fanning completed the game, with Troxell allowing a run in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by senior Alex Braverman (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) that scored classmate Joe Donnelly (Patterson, N.Y./Carmel), who got his first career start away from the mound in the designated hitter's spot. Donnelly was one of eight Valiants to reach base and connected on his first collegiate hit and stolen base in the seventh inning.

The Monarchs scored in all but three innings and added four insurance runs in the eighth after holding a 9-3 lead.

Manhattanville (14-17, 6-12 Freedom) will take on Farmingdale State tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in a non-conference doubleheader.