ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – An eleven-run eighth inning by Eastern University was the difference maker in Manhattanville baseball's conference opener Friday afternoon at The Yard as the Valiants fell 17-8.
 
Manhattanville racked up ten hits on the afternoon, led by three knocks from senior Robbie Lynch (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) who also led the team with three runs scored in the game. Freshman Peter Iannarilli (West Nyack, N.Y./Clarkstown South) recorded the only other multi-hit game for the Valiants, going 2-for-2 at the plate including his first career homerun. The lefty started the Valiant rally in the eighth, pulling Manhattanville within one run with a solo blast to lead off the inning, making it an 8-7 game. After a single from freshman Matt Lynch (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) and a double from junior Danny Gallagher (Nanuet, N.Y./Paramus Catholic), the Valiants took the lead on a two-run triple from senior Chris Conklin (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland) to take a 9-8 lead. The Valiants added a fourth run in the frame on an infield single from R. Lynch and looked to be in control, needing just six outs to pull out the win.
 
The Eagles had other plans however, as Eastern sent 16 batters to the plate in the bottom of the eighth, plating 11 runs to push the game out of reach. The big inning was highlighted by two-run doubles from Timmy Gorton, Joseph De Los Santos, Shane Albertson, and Andrew Boykin. Gorton finished with a game-high six runs batted in and Angelo Kelly was a perfect 5-for-5 on the day for the Eagles.
 
The Valiants will look to right the ship tomorrow as they look to snap their current five-game skid and earn their first MAC Freedom victory with two more games against Eastern as they wrap up the season series. Due to poor field conditions in Purchase, the games will be played at Eastern but Manhattanville will be the home team in the two contests. First pitch of game one is scheduled for noon.