Boxscore

PURCHASE, N.Y. – Senior Alex Braverman (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) finished his four-year career by playing in eight defensive positions and found the time to hit two singles, but the Manhattanville baseball team fell to non-conference Western Connecticut State University, 11-5, on Tuesday afternoon in the Valiants' season finale at Manhattanville Field.

Braverman started his quest behind the plate for the first two innings before roaming around the diamond and outfield inning-by-inning. While on base twice with a pair of singles, he stole three bases including one of third.

Junior Chris Nardozzi (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) led the squad with three hits, while graduate student Joe Gallace (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) finished his career with an run batted in. Joining Gallace with an RBI was sophomore Raul Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y./DeWitt Clinton), who started at third and doubled a run home in the eighth.

Junior A.J. Marini (Fair Lawn, N.J./Paramus Catholic) lasted four innings on the mound, throwing three scoreless innings before allowing three hits and two runs in the fourth. The Valiants tied the game in the fourth, getting a lead-off hit by Nardozzi and then got help from both a defensive error by the Colonials that scored Nardozzi and a wild pitch to score freshman Hans Arias (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond).

Western Connecticut added three more runs in the fifth inning, on a wild pitch and then a two-run homer by Zach Dandrea. The visitors added the eventual game-winning run in the sixth inning with a solo home run by Matt Rosbrough. Western Connecticut added five insurance runs in the eight inning to take an 11-3 lead.

Manhattanville scored single runs in the final three innings, beginning with an RBI single by Gallace to left field in the seventh. Rodriguez's double down the left field line in the eighth inning cut the deficit to seven, and then with two outs in the ninth inning, pinch-runner senior Justin Gray (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) scored on a wild pitch.

Zach Philippas pitched 6.2 innings for the Colonials and allowed three runs (two earned), but did walk seven batters.

Chris Smith led the Colonials with five RBIs after a bases-clearing double down the right field line in the eighth inning.

Manhattanville finishes the season with an overall record of 16-20 and 7-14 in the Freedom Conference. The team will lose six players, four seniors and two graduate students, next season.