PURCHASE, N.Y. - The Manhattanville University baseball team split its senior day series with the visiting Mount Saint Mary, falling 6-4 in the first contest while shutting out their counterparts 8-0 in the second. The Valiants now reside at 13-15, two games under .500, with a 5-7 record in conference play, within striking distance of the final playoff spot. 

Between the two games, the graduating seniors of the Manhattanville baseball team were recognized with a ceremony for their contributions to the program. Christian Amoruso (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West), Jackson Branigan (Yonkers, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac), Gregory Esposito (Katonah, N.Y./John Jay), Braden Kunda (Eastchester, N.Y./Eastchester), Jay Lockwood (Stamford, Conn./Stamford), Matt Louie (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown), Michael Medwid (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown), Ian Murray (Commack, N.Y./Commack) and Anthony Pressimone (Bronx, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) were among those honored on Saturday afternoon. 

Game One: Manhattanville 4, MSMC 6 (7 Innings) 

Early into the slate, the Knights jumped on their counterparts pitching, getting the first two batters on base thanks to a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Aidan Marshall would ground out to the shortstop but drove in the runner placed on third base for a 1-0 lead in the top of the inning. Tyler Van De Bogart as the next batter would fly out to center field bringing in the second run of the inning, putting the Valiants into an early 2-0 hole. 

In the bottom of the second, the Valiants were able to load up the bases, with a walk to start the inning, then a single through the left side of the infield, and finally another walk. Jake Parisi (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach) was subsequently hit by a pitch, bringing home the first run of the contest for the Valiants with an unconventional RBI.  

The Knights would answer back in booming fashion, as Marshall took his base on balls, making way for Van De Bogart to drive one deep over the right field fence, for a 4-1 lead. 

Manhattanville would slice into the lead built up by the Knights in the bottom half of the third, with Gregory Tashik (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park Jr./Sr.) taking his base after being hit in the elbow guard by an inside pitch. Anthony Pressimone (Bronx, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) would double to center field moving the runner from first to third, placing two in scoring position. Joshua Gillison (Buchanan, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) would fall victim to the same fate that Tashik faced, taking the open base from a hit-by-pitch. CJ Archul (West Nyack, N.Y./Clarkstown South) drove in a run thanks to a sacrifice fly to left field, pinning the contest at 4-2 in the Knights' favor. 

As Mount Saint Mary did all game, the Knights would reestablish their lead in the next top half of the inning. After getting two runners in scoring position, Chris Calvario would bring the runner on third across with a sacrifice fly to left field, making way for Marshall to single down the left field line, bringing the score to 6-2. 

Chris Goohs (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown H.S. East) would bring home a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, after getting two men on, leading to the bottom of the seventh. The Valiants would attempt to string together runs, after starting the inning with back-to-back singles. Joseph McDonald (Coram, N.Y./Longwood) would fly out to center field, driving in a run, but the Valiants could not capitalize on the baserunners, for a final score of 6-4. 

Myles Durney (Port Chester, N.Y./Port Chester) was tabbed with the loss on the mound for the Valiants, as he was relieved in the second inning by Chris Antonelli (Yonkers, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac), who went three and two thirds, striking out three and only allowing two earned runs. 

Game Two: Manhattanville 8, MSMC 0 

In game two, the Valiants outhit their opponents, also forcing them into committing three errors, capitalizing on them for a 8-0 victory. 

Pressimone and the Valiants jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, after getting runners on the corners with a hit-by-pitch, single, and a fielder's choice. The senior catcher doubled to center field driving in both the men on base. 

Manhattanville would strike again in the bottom of the third, with Braden Kunda (Eastchester, N.Y./Eastchester) heading off the inning with a walk, and swiping second. Michael Medwid (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) would single down the right field line bringing around Kunda to push the score to 3-0. Pressimone would continue his scorching hot day at the plate, as he singled to right center for another run batted in, as the score sat at 4-0. 

The Knights would bring in a new arm to start the bottom of the eighth inning, leading to the Valiants pouncing on the fresh meat for four runs on three hits. Jackson Branigan (Yonkers, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) kicked off the scoring with a bases-loaded single up the middle, bringing around two runs, leading to Archul singling to second base for another run. Kunda would cap off the inning with an RBI groundout to the shortstop, seeing the score sit at 8-0. 

Lockwood would come out of the bullpen for the final two out of the contest, giving the Valiants the 8-0 win, and the series split. 

Ryan Osso (Eastchester, N.Y./Eastchester) went six and one third, allowing only four hits while striking out four batters. Murray came in relief, allowing two hits in his two innings of work. 

Up Next 

The Valiants will head crosstown, taking on Purchase in the baseball edition of the Battle of Anderson Hill Road, unfolding Sunday at 12 & 2 p.m. 

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