FISHKILL, N.Y. – The offense exploded Wednesday night for the Manhattanville College baseball team, as the Valiants routed Mount Saint Mary 17-2 in non-conference play inside Dutchess Stadium.
The Valiants racked up 20 hits to go with their 17-run output Wednesday against the Knights, the most runs the team has scored since putting 18 on the board last season against Purchase College. Manhattanville scored in seven consecutive at bats, being held scoreless in just the first and ninth inning.
Peter Iannarilli (West Nyack, N.Y./Clarkstown South) led the offensive charge with three hits and two walks in six plate appearances, scoring three runs. Senior
Robbie Lynch (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) added three RBIs on a three-run homer and freshman
Stephen Merrill (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) added three RBIs as well.
The Valiants got the scoring started Wednesday afternoon with two runs in the second inning. Following a leadoff single by sophomore
Nick Simmons (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) and a double by freshman
Luke Tebolt (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham), fellow freshman
Stephen Merrill (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) smacked a double to right center to score both baserunners and give the Valiants the lead.
Manhattanville continued to roll in their next six at bats, scoring 15 more runs in their next six at bats to take a 17-0 lead. Simmons drove in two during that stretch and Merrill drove in another for his third RBI of the afternoon while Lynch cranked a homerun just inside the foul pole in left field in the top of the seventh for the exclamation point on the win.
During the offensive explosion, junior
Thomas Contrelli (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) was masterful on the mound, earning the win while allowing just two baserunners over five innings of work, adding three perfect innings in the start. Junior
Billy Tempone (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) struck out two in one inning of work on the mound as well and sophomore
Francisco Jaile (Hartsdale, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) retired all three batters he faced in the ninth.
The Valiants return to action this weekend for a three-game series with Delaware Valley in MAC Freedom action. Manhattanville is scheduled to host the Aggies on Friday for the opening game of the series beginning at 3:30 pm.
