BRONX, N.Y. – Junior
Chris Conklin (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland) hit a solo homerun in the top of the 10th inning to lead the Valiants past Lehman College 8-6 in extra innings Wednesday.
Conklin's blast was his third of the season and gave Manhattanville (23-11 overall) a 7-6 lead in the extra inning. Sophomore
Danny Gallagher (Nanuet, N.Y./Paramus Catholic) added an insurance run on a wild pitch to give the Valiants a two-run lead that they would not relinquish.
Junior
John Delahanty (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) added a homer of his own, his first of the season. Senior
Jordanis Nunez (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond) went 3-6 at the plate with two runs batted in, and Delahanty, Conklin, and junior
Robbie Lynch (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) had two hits each on the day.
Senior
Sam Garito (New Rochelle, N.Y./Iona Prep) tossed 1.1 scoreless innings, striking out one to earn his fourth win of the season. Sophomore
John Fanelli (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) earned his second save of the season after setting the Lightning down in order in the tenth, striking out two along the way.
Manhattanville had to battle back early on after falling behind to Leham (8-23 overall) 4-0 after three innings. Delahanty's homerun in the fourth sparked the Valiant offense, cutting the deficit to three runs with the Valiants tying the game in the fifth.
Conklin started off the three-run inning by beating out an infield single to third base. Gallagher followed up with another single to move Conklin to third before Nunez drove home the pair with a single to left field to make it 4-3. Lynch continued the rally with an RBI single to bring home Nunez to level the score.
The Lighting retook the lead in the fifth before Manhattanville drew two bases loaded walks in the seventh to take a 6-5 lead. Lehman had one more rally left in them, tying the score on an RBI double from catcher Matthew Prevolsi.
After the two teams were held scores in the ninth, Conklin put the Valiants ahead for good with his solo shot to lead off the 10th.
The Valiants will play their second to last non-conference matchup of the season tomorrow when they travel to Eastern Connecticut State for a matchup with the Warriors under the lights. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 P.M.
