PURCHASE, N.Y. - Battling blow for blow with the Reigning Skyline Champs, the Manhattanville University baseball team fought to extras and then fell in two close contests, 3-5 (11 Innings) and 5-6. With the results, the Valiants now hold a record of 12-7, with an even .500 mark of 2-2 in Skyline play. 

Game One: Manhattanville 3, St. Joseph's 5 (11 Innings) 

Ryan McCann (Medford, N.Y./Longwood) continued to do all last year since taking over the ace of the staff, pitching 7.1 innings allowing only two earned runs and giving up no base-on-balls. 

The Goldens Eagles were able to get ahold of the Valiant hurler early in the contest, tallying three of the seven hits in the opening frame. Jordan Ramlogan led off with a single through the left side of the infield, being moved up to second with a sacrifice bunt. Ramlogan was brought home from a Marco Gullo single, to give SJLI the lead 1-0. 

No action would be had until the top of the fourth, when Anselmo Joya uncorked a solo shot to left field to add onto the Golden Eagle lead, 2-0. 

Manhattanville would awake in the bottom of the seventh, putting their rally caps on to have a rally kickstarted by an Anthony Caputo (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas) double down the left field line. Brian Brezosky (Garnerville, N.Y./North Rockland) would back that up with a single hit towards the shortstop. Joseph McDonald (Coram, N.Y./Longwood) kept the line going as runners were on first and second, getting the first run of the game for Manhattanville with a single of his own to left field. Joshua Gillison (Buchanan, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) stepped in the batter's box and laced a single to left center, bringing around Brezosky from second for the first run of the inning. SJLI was able to clamp down on the defensive side of the ball, stopping the bases loaded efforts from the Valiants, bringing the originally scheduled seven inning game to a nine-inning contest. 

St. Joe's would lead off the top tenth with a walk, leading to a double to right field for runners on second and third. Dom Crema would subsequently single to the shortstop to scoring the two runners in scoring position, for a 4-2 lead. The Golden Eagles would get an insurance run with another single to the shortstop for a 5-3 margin. 

Manhattanville would threaten in the bottom frame of the inning, after leading off with back-to-back singles for runners on first and second. A subsequent single with one out left with the bases loaded, Gillison would produce a sacrifice fly for the final run of the contest, leaving a mark of 5-3 for the Golden Eagles win. 

Gregory Esposito (Katonah, N.Y./John Jay) was tabbed with the lost on the mound for Manhattanville, pitching two and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on three hits. Ryan Costa (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport Blue-Point) came in and closed out the first game with one inning of work, striking out one on one hit. 

Game Two: Manhattanville 5, SJLI 6 

Once again, the Golden Eagles jumped all over the Valiant hurler early in the contest, this time with a towering two-run blast to right field, marching out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. 

Manhattanville would answer back in the bottom of the second, Mike Ambrosecchia (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) singled up the middle and making his way to third base from a stolen base and a wild pitch. Ambrosecchia was driven in by a McDonald single to the shortstop, slicing into the established lead, 2-1. 

The Golden Eagles added an insurance run started by a double to right field and then a bunt single to the pitcher forcing the hurler to attempt to make a play for runners on the corners. Ramlogan would ground out to the pitcher but not before another run could score for a 3-1 margin. 

The Valiants would reach with the first three batters in the bottom of the sixth inning, started by a throwing error on the second baseman, then a single to move the runner to second. Jackson Branigan (Yonkers, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) would single to bring home the runner in scoring position, to once again cut into the lead and put the Valiants in prime position to even the score. Manhattanville would do just that with a little help from the catcher, as the backstop could not corral the throw at home, dropping the ball and letting the Valiants score to tie the contest at 3-all. 

St. Joseph's would answer back with three runs of their own in the next time at bat, leading off with a walk, then swiping second and third. The first run of the inning would come from a single to the first baseman, scoring the man on third. After getting bases loaded, Joe Hackal would single to left field to drive in two runs, putting the score at 6-3. 

Manhattanville would once again try to put on their rally caps, starting with a single to third base. Being moved up by a ground out and adding another runner from a throwing error, the Valiants found themselves with runners on second and third. Manhattanville would produce a sacrifice fly deep to center, for the first run of the inning. Branigan then singled up the middle for the second run, putting the Valiants within one run. The Golden Eagles would shut the down on a comeback, striking out the final batter, for a 6-5 win. 

Ray White (Mohegan Lake, N.Y./Lakeland) started the game on the bump for Manhattanville, tossing four and one-third innings allowing only three earned runs on three strikeouts. 

Jake Warnock (Eastchester, N.Y./Eastchester) was tabbed with the loss, as he came in to replace White, throwing two and two-thirds innings and allowing three earned runs on two hits. 

Up Next 

Manhattanville prepares for the first of a six-game road trip, starting on Tuesday at Ramapo. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m. 

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