Boxscore game one
Boxscore game two

PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville baseball team salvaged a game two come from behind victory to escape being swept by Wilkes University on A beautiful Saturday afternoon for Senior Day at Manhattanville Field.

The hosts took the second game 9-7 after scoring five runs in the fifth inning and then a pair of runs in the sixth to open up the lead. In the first game of the day, timely pitching and smart hitting led to the Colonels taking the series with a 5-3 edge.

Junior Dan Fiorito (Yonkers, N.Y./Fordham Prep) led the Valiants with four RBIs in the second game on two hits. Classmate Chris Nardozzi (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) had four hits on the day and two runs scored. Manhattanville finished the day with 17 total hits and three extra base hits. Graduate student Joe Gallace (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) scored three times in the victory and also had three hits.

Graduate student Alex Mason (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Rye Neck) completed his final start at Manhattanville with a complete game, but came up on the losing end allowing five runs on 10 hits.

Senior Justin Gray (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) made his first start in game two since 2009 and walked away with a no-decision after he allowed six runs (one earned) over 4.1 innings of work. Junior Pat Yannucci (New Hyde Park, N.Y./Sewanhaka) came in and secured the victory for the Valiants in 1.2 innings of shutout ball. Yannucci (2-1) struck out one batter and got a double play to end the fifth inning. Senior Joe Donnelly (Patterson, N.Y./Carmel) closed out the seventh inning for his second save of the season.

In the opening game, The Colonels led 3-0 until the Valiants tied the game in the fourth inning scoring three runs with two outs. The Valiants got four singled in the inning, as freshman Hans Arias (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond) scored Nardozzi. Senior Alex Braverman (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) and Arias both stole allowing Braverman to score from third and then sophomore Nick Freddo (Marblehead, Mass./Marblehead) singled home Arias to tie the game.

The Colonels added single runs in the fifth and seventh innings to take the two-run victory. The Valiants had an opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, as with two runners in scoring position, Fiorito sent a blast to the warning track but was caught to end the game.

Zach Lazar went the distance allowing three runs on eight hits and struck out five.  Angus Neary led the team with two hits, along with a home run by Richard Cosgrove.

In the finale, the visitors added a run in the opening inning, but Fiorito tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly out that scored Gallace. In the third inning, Wilkes scored four times and took a 5-1 lead. The hosts cut the lead with an RBI double by Fiorito to score Braverman.

In the fifth inning, Wilkes added a run, but Manhattanville took the lead with five runs on three hits. Nardozzi got the Valiants closer with an RBI single through the left side to score Gallace. Fiorito then continued his offensive power with a triple through the right side to score Braverman and Nardozzi. Fiorito crossed the plate after a throwing error by the right fielder off a fly ball by Bucci. The Valiants took a 7-6 lead on a sacrifice ground out by sophomore Nicholas Freddo.

The Valiants added insure runs in the sixth inning with hits from Gallace, Braverman and Nardozzi. Nardozzi scored the other two hitters with a single to the outfield and an error.

Manhattanville (18-15, 11-10 Freedom) will conclude the season with their final non-conference game of the year, hosting Western Connecticut State on Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.