MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Manhattanville College baseball team opened up a new week with a win on Monday afternoon as the Valiants defeated Bridgewater State 8-4. The Valiants improve to 3-1 at The Ripken Experience to open up the season with one game remaining in South Carolina.

Bridgewater State took a lead in the fifth and seventh innings, but Manhattanville responded to both deficits in the bottom half of the frame to go back in front, ultimately plating five runs in the final two innings to secure the victory.

Brian Bornkamp (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) went 3-for-4 at the plate, legging out a double and stealing a base while scoring a pair of runs. Tyler Mandel (Scarsdale, N.Y./Scarsdale) delivered one of the biggest hits of the contest, a two-run double in the seventh that put the Valiants back in front for good.

Jake Parisi (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach) got the Valiants on the board in the second inning with a sacrifice fly to bring home Mandel, who reached to open up the inning after a dropped pop fly. The Valiants capitalized on the error to take a 1-0 lead.

Jay Wladkowski delivered a pair of clutch hits for the Bears, tying up the game in the third with an RBI triple before putting Bridgewater State in front with an RBI double in the fifth. The Valiants got back in front in the bottom of the fifth once again capitalizing on a Bear error. Joseph McDonald (Coram, N.Y./Longwood) and Bornkamp both got on base with a pair of walks and would attempt a double steal as Chris Goohs (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown H.S. East) went down on strikes. The throw was off line, allowing both runners to come around and score to put Manhattanville ahead 3-2.

Bridgewater State plated a pair of runs in the seventh on a walk, an RBI double and a run-scoring single to take a 4-3 lead. Once again, it would be the Valiants making the most of Bear errors to go back in front in the bottom of the inning. Parisi led off the inning with a single, advancing to second on a failed pickoff and scampering up to third on a wild pitch. The senior scored the tying run as McDonald put a ball in play. After Bornkamp reached on an infield single, Mandel delivered the big blow of the inning with the two-bagger to left center to clear the bases and drive home two more.

The Valiants added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth. Braden Kunda (Eastchester, N.Y./Eastchester) successfully stole home on a double steal before Michael Matica (Pleasantville, N.Y./Pleasantville) scored Parisi on a single to center.

Alby Ciuffetelli (Mahopac, N.Y./Yorktown) got the start for the Valiants on the mound, going five innings while allowing a pair of runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk. The grad student struck out four. He would depart in the sixth after issuing a leadoff walk, giving way to Tommy Iazzetta (Thornwood, N.Y./Westlake) the rest of the way. Iazzetta stranded the inherited runner and would allow a pair of earned runs in his four innings on three hits and two walks while striking out three to notch his first win of the season.

Up Next
The Valiants conclude their spring break trip tomorrow as they will run it back with Bridgewater State at 9 a.m.

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