Box Score PURCHASE, N.Y. – Sophomore Jordanis Nunez (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond) was the x factor for the Manhattanville baseball team on Wednesday afternoon, stroking four hits with three RBIs and three runs to lead the Valiants past SUNY Old Westbury 11-6 in non-conference action at Manhattanville Field.
 
Nunez remains red hot for the Valiants as the leadoff hitter, totaling nine hits in the last four games while also reaching base safely 14 times. The sophomore shortstop was dynamic on the diamond against the Panthers by making tough plays appear routine.
 
Manhattanville (7-8) was on a five game losing skid before taking down Old Westbury (6-13), ending a three-game winning streak for the Panthers.
 
Junior Zack Zareva (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills Regional) (2-0) took the mound for the Valiants, tossing six innings, allowing five runs on seven hits.  In relief, sophomore Sam Garito (New Rochelle, N.Y./Iona Prep) and junior Joe Palmeri (Mastic, N.Y./Eastport/South Manor) threw for three strong innings, combining to only give up two hits and one run.
 
The Valiants were able to get on Panthers pitcher Frank DiMaria early as Nunez led the game off with a double off the left field wall. After a wild pitch and a ground out from freshman Joe Anselmi (North Rockland, N.Y./North Rockland), Nunez would score the game's first run, giving Manhattanville a 1-0 lead after the first inning.
 
Whenever the Valiants needed production at the plate, Nunez had no issues producing. With two runners in scoring position and two outs in the second inning, Nunez smacked a single to right field, knocking in one run before sophomore Kurt Hommen (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) was thrown out at the plate. 
 
The Panthers were able to work off their 2-0 deficit in the third by tying the game up on two sloppy plays by Zareva. Despite the two errors committed by the junior southpaw, Zareva was able to settle down on the mound and get himself out of a bases loaded jam.
 
Old Westbury eventually took a lead in the fourth inning, scoring two more runs, taking a 4-2 lead.  The Valiants were able to answer right back in the fourth by scoring four runs, jumping out to a 6-4 lead. After a double by senior Eli Tsouristakis (New Rochelle, N.Y./Fordham Prep), scoring freshman John Delahanty (Mahopac/N.Y.), Nunez smacked his second double of the game to score Tsouristakis and Hommen. Nunez eventually came around to score after stealing third base and moving home on a passed ball for the Valiants' sixth run.
 
Manhattanville got another run in the fifth when junior Kevin Brady (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) roped a single to right center, scoring freshman Chris Conklin (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland). The Panthers were able to score two more runs in the next two innings, cutting their deficit to 7-6 after the top half of the seventh. The sixth run would be the final run for Old Westbury as the Valiants chipped in four more insurance runs, winning by an 11-6 final.
 
Manhattanville travels to DeSales for its next game on Friday at 3:30 p.m. as the Valiants look to get back to their winning ways against Freedom Conference opponents. Live stats are available via GoValiants.com