Box Score PURCHASE, N.Y.- The Manhattanville baseball team powered its way through an action-packed Freedom Conference Friday afternoon against Eastern, taking down the Eagles by a final score of 17-13 on senior day at Manhattanville field.
 
Seniors Alex Basso (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Putnam Valley), Ryan Blinderman (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Warde), V.J. Collins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington), David Jones (Lanesboro, Mass./Mt. Greylock) and Spencer Samelson (Larchmont, N.Y./Mamaroneck) were all honored before today's game for their contributions over the past four years at Manhattanville (19-12, 12-7 Freedom). Although it was those five seniors receiving recognition, it was classmate Eli Tsouristakis (New Rochelle, N.Y./Fordham Prep) leading the Valiants past Eastern (6-26, 5-14 Freedom).
 
Tsouristakis was dynamic at the plate, stroking four hits in five at bats with four hits, four RBIs and three runs, including a two-run home run. The catcher might be graduating in May, but Tsouristakis will still be eligible for another year of baseball while enrolling in graduate classes.  Along with Tsouristakis, junior Kevin Brady (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) collected two hits, four RBIs and two runs, while smoking a home run of his own.
 
Junior Michael Lyon (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) (3-3) started on the mound for Manhattanville, throwing five innings, allowing six runs on six hits in a no-decision effort. The Valiants tossed five different pitchers on Friday, giving up 13 runs on 12 total hits to Eastern.
 
With major production at the plate for Manhattanville, the Valiants were able to persevere past the Eagles. Starting in the second inning, the Valiants scored four runs when it was junior Bobby Guerra (Bronx, N.Y./Arlington) knocking in the first run of the game on a single to left field, bringing home freshman Robbie Lynch (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep). While the next run came on a groundout, Tsouristakis soon stepped up, belting a two-run home run to left field and making it 4-0.
 
For Eastern, Andrew DiFerdinando had a monster day at the plate, going 4 for 5, including a grand slam that knocked in four of his impressive eight RBIs. DiFerdinando proved to be the difference for the Eagles all afternoon, as he got the Eagles started in the third with an RBI single up the middle, cutting their deficit at two, 4-2.
 
The Valiants got right back to work in the third inning, scoring two more runs off an RBI double from sophomore Jordanis Nunez (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond) and an RBI single from Lynch, extending the lead back to four, 6-2. Eastern never let up behind its workhorse DiFerdinando, who stepped up in the fourth with the bases loaded, cranking a grand slam to left center, tying the game at six.
 
Luckily for Manhattanville, the Valiants continued gathering rhythm offensively, retaking the lead in the fourth on a passed ball and sacrifice fly off Eagles starter Lucas Bremerman. Bremerman may have lasted 6 2/3 innings on the rubber, but the Valiants poured on 13 runs against him, including eight after the fourth inning.
 
Despite the Valiants controlling an 8-6 lead after the fourth, Eastern showed more strength headed into the sixth after a scoreless fifth. The Eagles collected four more runs with two of them coming from a two-run single from DiFerdinando. As Eastern held its first lead of the game in the sixth at 10-8, Manhattanville answered right back in the bottom half.
 
After an RBI single from Tsouristakis into left field, Brady stepped up next, smacking a two-run homer to left, giving Manhattanville back a lead at 11-10. DiFerdinando batted again in the seventh, putting the team on his back with an RBI double to right center, tying the game back up.
 
Both teams had an answer offensively as the Valiants took back the lead in their next at-bat. On a routine play at third base that should have ended the inning for Eastern in the seventh, junior Nick Euvino (Bronx, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) secured the lead back for Manhattanville. With Euvino on, Tsouristakis connected on another RBI single, putting the Valiants up 13-11.
 
Eastern scored another run in the eighth, cutting the Valiants lead to one, but Manhattanville put together a big eighth of its own, knocking in four runs. Freshman John Delahanty (Mahopac/N.Y.) started the push, delivering his first collegiate home run, scoring two. After Delahanty, Brady stepped up later, smoking a two-run double, extending the Manhattanville lead to five, 17-12.
 
The Valiants bullpen led by the winning pitcher, sophomore Sam Garito (New Rochelle, N.Y./Iona Prep) (1-2), were able to deliver the victory for Manhattanville. Junior Joe Palmeri (Mastic, N.Y./Eastport/South Manor) entered in the ninth, allowing one run before closing the door on Eastern en route to a 17-13 win.
 
Manhattanville will travel to Eastern tomorrow for its final Freedom Conference doubleheader to take on the Eagles starting at 1:00 p.m. Live video and live stats can be accessed via GoValiants.com.