ST. DAVID'S, Pa. – The Manhattanville College baseball team swept Eastern University Saturday afternoon behind clutch hitting by junior Joe Booker (Port Jefferson, N.Y./Port Jefferson) as the Valiants bounced back to claim the season series against the Eagles Saturday afternoon at Eastern University.
 
Poor field conditions in Purchase forced the Valiants to play all three games on Eastern's campus over the weekend. Despite playing on the road, the Valiants were the home team for both games Saturday and used the last at bat to their advantage in game one when Booker drilled a pitch off the outfield fence to give the Crimson and Black a walk-off win.
 
Booker finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate between the two games, driving in three runs. Senior John Delahanty (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) racked up three hits with three runs scored and two runs batted in while sophomore Luke Scoggins (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) recorded three hits with two runs batted in.
 
Game One
 
On the mound, junior Antonio Ogando (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic) was strong on the mound for the Valiants, striking out five and allowing just two hits through 5.1 innings of work before giving way to freshman Justin Proteau (Wolcott, Conn./Canterbury School). After the freshman ran into trouble in the seventh, junior Danny Gallagher (Nanuet, N.Y./Paramus Catholic) recorded the final three outs of the contest to earn his first win of the season.
 
The Valiants led 5-0 heading into Eastern's final at bat before déjà vu set in for Manhattanville. Just three outs away from a shutout victory, the Eagles sent ten batters to the plate, scoring six runs to take a one-run lead and shock Manhattanville for the second day in a row. The big inning was highlighted by a bases clearing 3-run double by Andrew Boykin to give Eastern the one-run edge.
 
The Valiants refused to have a repeat of Friday, however. After a flyout to begin the bottom half of the final frame, Scoggins singled to begin a Manhattanville rally. Three consecutive walks plated the tying run for Manhattanville and brought Booker to the plate as a pinch hitter with bases loaded and one out.  In his first plate appearance of the day, Booker sent a shot off the outfield fence for a walk-off single to give Manhattanville a 7-6 victory in the opening game.
 
Game Two
 
More dramatics were in store for the Valiants in the rubber match of the series as Manahttanville was forced to play from behind for the third consecutive game. Freshman Matt Galyas (Norwalk, Conn./Brien McMahon) started game two on the mount, allowing one run over 3.2 innings. After junior John Fanelli (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) allowed a hit against the only batter he faced, freshman Jarret took over and was commanding the rest of the way for the Valiants.
 
Despite allowing a run on a fielding error, Oehler allowed just one hit and one walk over the final 3.2 innings, striking out four Eagles along the way. Keeping Eastern in check, the Valiants came to the plate trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth. After consecutive singles and a sacrifice bunt to lead off the inning, Booker delivered another clutch shot, doubling to left field to plate both runners and tie the score 2-2. Manhattanville was unable to drive in Booker but entered the sixth inning level and used their final at bat to come away with the win once again in game two. After a walk by senior Chris Conklin (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland), fellow classmate Robbie Lynch (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) advanced Conklin to third on a single, but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double. With Conklin on third and one out, Scoggins drove in the would-be winning run with a sacrifice fly to center field. Oehler retired the side in order in the top of the seventh and the Valiants held on for the 3-2 win and the overall series win over the Eagles.
 
With the wins, Manhattanville improves to 3-7 on the season and 2-1 in MAC Freedom play. Continuing their busy schedule, Manhattanville travels to the College of Staten Island tomorrow afternoon for a doubleheader matchup against the Dolphins beginning at 12:00 pm.