PURCHASE, N.Y. - Junior Joe Anselmi (North Rockland, N.Y./North Rockland)'s homerun in the bottom of the seventh proved to be the game-winner as Manhattanville held on to defeat William Paterson Wednesday afternoon 9-8.

Anselmi came on as a pinch hitter and promptly blasted a homerun inside the left foul pole to give the Valiants a 9-6 lead at the time. After allowing two runs in the eighth inning, senior Dennis Berardi (Brewster, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic) shut down the Pioneers in the ninth to secure the victory for the Valiants.

For the Valiants, the win snaps a seven-game losing streak to William Paterson dating back to the 2009 season.

Senior Jordanis Nunez (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond) led the Valiants with three hits and three RBI's in the game. Sophomore Danny Gallagher (Nanuet, N.Y./Paramus Catholic) also recorded three hits on the day and scored three runs for the second consecutive day.

The Valiant bullpen was solid on the afternoon, with senior David Mangum (Rye, N.Y./Rye), freshman Nick Simmons (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham), and Berardi combining to throw five innings, allowing just three hits and two runs to slow down the Pioneers (10-7 overall) and earn the seventh victory for the Valiants since returning from Spring Break.

For the second consecutive day, the Valiants (8-6 overall) battled from behind three times in the game. After allowing a run in the first, Nunez doubled home Gallagher to tie the score at 1-1. The Pioneers scored another run in the third, but again the Valiants answered in the bottom half of the frame on an RBI groundout from junior Robbie Lynch (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep), and RBI singles from junior John Delahanty (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) and freshman Brian Primm (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) to take a 4-2 lead. After plating two more runs in the fourth, the Pioneers leveled the score with four runs of their own in the fifth.

The Valiants took the lead for good in the sixth, scoring two runs on an RBI single from freshman Luke Scoggins (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun). Anselmi put a stamp on the game with his homerun in the seventh to make it a three-run lead for the Valiants.

Berardi entered the game with runners on second and third with one out in the eighth and a two-run lead. Berardi induced a groundout from the first batter he faced, but the Pioneers were able to score a run on the play to make it a 9-8 game. The senior then induced a pop-out to keep the one-run lead intact and work out of the jam. Berardi set the Pioneers down in order in the ninth to earn his first save of the season.

Mangum earned the win for Manhattanville after 2.1 innings of relief work. Mike Sasso took the loss for the Pioneers.

The Valiants return to action on Friday when they host FDU-Florham in the first game of the season series at Manhattanville Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 P.M.