Box Score PURCHASE, N.Y.– The Manhattanville baseball team struggled to get much going against Alvernia on Monday afternoon; falling by a final score of 20-1 in non-conference action at Manhattanville Field.
 
Despite the loss, Manhattanville (16-12) officially clinched a spot in the Freedom Conference playoffs as Eastern lost to DeSales. Alvernia (22-10) was hot at the plate, connecting on 19 hits, scoring 20 runs en route to the victory over the Valiants.
 
Manhattanville only tallied six hits at the plate with two of them coming from reigning Freedom Conference Player of the Week freshman Joe Anselmi (North Rockland, N.Y./North Rockland). Alvernia pitcher Aaron Benusis dominated Manhattanville on the rubber, tossing seven strong innings, allowing just one run while striking out 11 Valiants.
 
Senior Joe Pareres (Bronxville, N.Y./Fordham Prep) (2-3) made the start on the rubber for Manhattanville, throwing 1 2/3 innings, giving up 10 runs on nine hits before being replaced by classmate Ryan Blinderman (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Warde). Blinderman threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs with only two runs being earned. The Valiants had issues in the field, suffering six total errors.
 
After trailing 14-0 after the top half of the fifth, Manhattanville was finally able to manufacture its only run in the bottom of the fifth. As junior Jeff Moskowitz (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) smoked a triple to left field, he would eventually be brought home on a single from classmate T.J. Hewett (Wethersfield, Conn./Wethersfield). Alvernia put on a clinic inside the batters box, as the Crusaders went on to win 20-1.
 
Manhattanville is scheduled to take on Freedom Conference opponent King's (Pa.) in an away game tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. Live stats can be accessed via GoValiants.com