PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College baseball team picked up a much needed conference victory, and earned the win for the season series against first place Misericordia Sunday afternoon, splitting the doubleheader matchup with the Cougars.
 
 
Junior Robbie Lynch (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) paced the Valiant offensive attack Sunday, dishing out four hits and driving in a run over the two games.  Junior John Delahanty (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) drove home four runs on the day and freshman Luke Scoggins (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) drove home two runs in game two.
 
On the mound, senior Julian Ponce (Port Chester, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) earned the win for Manhattanville in game two after working out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the seventh inning after the Cougars tied the game. 
 
 
GAME ONE:  Misericordia (20-9 overall, 11-4 MAC Freedom) used a big second inning in which they plated seven runs to take an early 7-0 lead.  The Cougars added to their lead in the fourth with a run to make it 8-0. 
 
The Valiants (18-11 overall, 9-6 MAC Freedom) got two runs back in the fourth on an RBI singles from Scoggins and Delahanty, but their comeback efforts fell short in the long run, as Manhattanville was only able to plate two more runs in their final at bat of the day, dropping game one by a 10-4 final score.
 
GAME TWO:  The backend of the doubleheader was full of excitement for the second day in a row for the Valiants, but it was Manhattanville coming out on the winning end Sunday.  After falling behind 3-1 after five innings of play, the Valiants rallied to take a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth.  Delahanty tied the game with a two run single through the left side, and junior Chris Conklin (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland) drew a bases loaded walk to give the Valiants a one run lead.
 
The comeback efforts quickly faltered however, as Misericordia plated three runs in the top of the seventh to take a two run lead.  Ponce worked out of a jam to end the inning, but the damage had already been done.  Trailing by two runs, the Valiants entered their final at bat looking to create more magic.
 
With one out, Lynch got the rally started with a single down the right field line.  After junior Joe Anselmi (North Rockland, N.Y./North Rockland) struck out, senior Chris Lattarulo (Armonk, N.Y./Byram Hills) delivered a pinch-hit single to left field to move Lynch to third.  Delahanty followed up with a frozen rope line drive to centerfield to score Lynch and move the tying run 90 feet from home plate.
 
Senior Jake McGrath (Pound Ridge, N.Y./Fox Lane) popped up what appeared to be the game's final out, but once again the Valiants caught a break as the ball landed between two Cougar infielders, plating the tying run.  Junior Joe Booker (Port Jefferson, N.Y./Port Jefferson) stepped up as a pinch hitter with two outs, and promptly singled to centerfield.  With the outfielders playing in, Delahanty forced a play at the plate.  The throw appeared to have been in time but scooted past the Misericordia catcher, giving the Valiants the come-from-behind victory, 7-6.
 
With the win, the Valiants improve to 9-6 in conference play this season and put themselves in solid position to return to the MAC Freedom postseason. 
 
The Valiants return to action Tuesday when they host cross-town rival Purchase College before taking on Delaware Valley in a three-game series next weekend.