PURCHASE, N.Y. - The Manhattanville University baseball team took the first game of two against the visiting Mariners, giving them their second conference loss on the season with a score of 6-5, but falling in a run-rule called second stanza, 25-11. With the win, the Valiants move to 15-18 on the season, with a 7-9 mark in conference play, sitting a series within a game of the final playoff spot.
Game One: Manhattanville 6, USMMA 5 (7 Innings)
The Mariners started the scoring in an unconventional way, crossing the plate thanks to a bases-loaded catcher's interference, putting the score at 1-0 in the top of the first inning.
After only mustering one hit through the first three innings, the Valiants opened the bottom of the fourth with a crooked number, collecting four runs on four hits. Jake Parisi (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach) led off the inning wearing a pitch to the elbow guard and subsequently advancing to second on a balk. Marco Clara (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) drove in the Valiants' first run of the game with a single to right field, bringing in Parisi from second. Gregory Tashik (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park Jr./Sr.) reached base on a single on the next available pitch, leading to Chris Goohs (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown H.S. East) to single through the left side of the infield for the 2-1 lead. CJ Archul (West Nyack, N.Y./Clarkstown South) used a base knock to bring in another run, as Goohs then scored from third on a wild pitch, bringing the score to 4-1 at the end of the fourth.
USMMA would use the top of the fifth to tie the contest at four-all, beginning with loading the bases with the opening three batters. Travis Leatherwood used a sacrifice fly to bring in the first run of the inning. Charles Cahalan would reach base due to a throwing error by the third baseman, making it to second on the error, while the miscue would bring in two more runs, tying the score at 4-4.
Merchant Marine would jump out in front of the Valiants with a Cahalan solo shot to left field, but the Valiants did not waver. In the same fashion as their counterparts, Manhattanville would load the bases with the first three batters in the bottom of the seventh, making way for Clara to drive in a run on a groundout for a tie-ball game. A fielder's choice on Tashik's at-bat made way for Anthony Mezzaucella (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) to score on a throwing error by the third baseman attempting to make the force out at home, giving the Valiants the 6-5 victory.
TJ Fuerst (Purchase, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) got the start on the rubber for the Valiants, going four innings and striking out two. Gregory Esposito (Katonah, N.Y./John Jay) came in of relief of Fuerst, securing the win on the bump after three innings of work, striking out four and allowing only two hits.
Game Two: Manhattanville 11, USMMA 25 (8 Innings)
In a game which featured 35 hits in total, the Mariners' offensive output was too much to overcome for the Valiants.
USMMA jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, from a sacrifice fly by Tyler Reistetter, setting up Daniel Serna to single to right for two RBIs, setting the score at three.
The Valiants would slice into the lead built up by the Mariners with Parisi and Anthony Pressimone (Bronx, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) singled to being the inning. Joesph McDonald reached base with a hard grounder to the shortstop, giving way to Tashik to drive in two runs on a single through the left side of the infield, pinning the score at 3-2.
Manhattanville would grab ahold of the lead in the next time up, the Valiants loaded up the bases with two walks and a single, giving Parisi a single to right for one run, tying it at three-all. The Valiants would take the lead with the next batter as Clara hit into a fielder's choice, bringing in the runner on third for a 4-3 lead.
Merchant Marine would snatch the lead right back with a grand slam to left field, adding on three more runs in the inning for a seven-run inning.
USMMA would add fifteen more runs as the contest unfolded, seeing the final score sit at 25-11 in game two of the doubleheader.
Up Next
The Valiants hit the road for the penultimate conference series against Old Westbury tomorrow, first pitch is slated for 12 p.m.
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