Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville baseball team struggled to manufacture runs at the plate on Saturday afternoon, losing both ends of its doubleheader against DeSales by the final scores of 5-2 and 4-2 at Manhattanville Field.
 
Freshman Chris Conklin (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland) had a stellar day at the plate for the Valiants, connecting for five total hits while also scoring a run. Despite Conklin's ability to consistently get on base, Manhattanville had trouble driving in runs.
 
Manhattanville (7-10, 2-6 Freedom) has lost its last six Freedom Conference contests, all coming from the top three teams in the conference. DeSales (9-9, 8-1 Freedom) remains on fire in conference play, residing in a first place tie with FDU-Florham.
 
Senior Alex Basso (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Putnam Valley) (2-1) took the mound in game one, tossing seven strong innings while allowing all five runs on six total hits. Despite throwing a complete game with three strikeouts, Basso suffered his first loss of the season.
 
Both Basso and DeSales pitcher Andrew Schuler (2-0) dominated the first three innings on the rubber, keeping each side scoreless at the plate. The Bulldogs were able to get the best of Basso in the fourth, driving in four runs with three of them coming off a bases clearing double to right center by Charles Dennis.
 
With the Valiants down 4-0 headed into the bottom half of the fourth inning, Manhattanville was able to put two runs on the scoreboard. Freshman Robbie Lynch (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) knocked in the first Manhattanville run on a double to right center, scoring sophomore Jordanis Nunez (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond). Junior Kevin Brady (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) stepped up next for the Valiants, lacing a double to right center, scoring Lynch to cut the deficit to two, 4-2.
 
Both teams were held scoreless until the seventh as DeSales secured an insurance run when Dennis came across the plate to score. Dennis played a role in four of the five DeSales runs in game one, leading the Bulldogs to a 5-2 victory.
 
Junior Michael Lyon (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) (1-3) started game two for the Valiants, throwing five innings while giving up four runs on seven hits. Sophomore Sam Garito (New Rochelle, N.Y./Iona Prep) offered exceptional relief in his two innings of work, keeping the Bulldogs scoreless on one hit.
 
Manhattanville was unable to secure base runners against DeSales starting pitcher Steven Wallace. Wallace only gave up two hits in his first five innings on the mound, keeping the Valiants scoreless until the sixth.
 
The Bulldogs got on Lyon early, tallying their first three runs in the first two innings, taking a 3-0 lead into the third. DeSales eventually scored again in the fifth to control a 4-0 lead.
After a leadoff double by Conklin in the sixth, followed by a Brady walk, freshman John Delahanty (Mahopac/N.Y.) would eventually bring them both home on a single to right field. With Manhattanville down 4-2 headed into the final inning, the Valiants were unable to put together a rally before falling by 4-2 final. Cameron Hoos tallied a save in both games for the Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon.
 
Manhattanville will look for revenge tomorrow against DeSales as both teams travel to Center Valley, Pa. for a 1:00 p.m. start. Live stats are available via GoValiants.com.