WAYNE, N.J.- The Manhattanville baseball team was unable to overcome an early first-inning deficit against William Paterson on Wednesday afternoon, falling to the Pioneers by a final score of 9-5 in non-conference play.
 
Manhattanville (3-4) threw seven different pitchers on the mound, allowing nine total runs on 12 total hits from William Paterson (1-0). Senior Michael Lyon (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) made the start for the Valiants, tossing 1/3 of an inning, giving up six runs on five hits. For the Pioneers, Mike Sasso came away with the win in their season opener, throwing three innings, allowing two runs.
 
Despite the Valiants scoring the first run of the game, the Pioneers put together a solid first inning, scoring six runs off Lyon. William Paterson added two more runs in the second inning as Anthony Hoagland brought in two RBIs on a single to left field.
 
Manhattanville chipped away at its seven-run deficit between the third and fifth innings, cutting the William Paterson lead down to four after five innings. Sophomore Robbie Lynch (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) utilized a sacrifice fly in the third as well as an RBI double in the fifth inning, pulling the Valiants within four, 8-4. The Pioneers got a run back in the fifth inning on an RBI single from K.C. Abel. Freshman Nick Campana (Yonkers, N.Y./Iona Prep) knocked in an RBI on a pinch-hit single in the ninth before the Valiants ended up falling by a final score of 9-5.
 
The Valiants are scheduled to take on Eastern to start off Freedom Conference play on Friday at 3:30 p.m.