MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Under the sun in Mrytle Beach, the Manhattanville University baseball team split their opening series against Rivier, falling in the first contest 6-1 but notching the win in the second tilt. 9-4. The Valiants now reside at a 3-1 record on the young season with four more games to go in the Ripken Experience.
Game One: Manhattanville 1, Rivier 6
The Raiders were able to grab ahold of the lead early in the first inning and would subsequently never trail in the contest.
Jacob Boudreau led off the bottom of the first with a walk, and swiping second base to put the Raiders in scoring position. Nathan Innerfield would single down the chalk in left field bringing around the runner on second for the 1-0 margin.
Manhattanville was able to level the score thanks to miscues by their counterparts, with it all being kicked off by a Joshua Gillison (Buchanan, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) single back up the middle of the infield. Gillison then was shown second thanks to a balk and making his way around the bases from a throwing error by the third baseman in the next at-bat, for a 1-1 score.
No action would be shown on the scoreboard until the bottom of the fourth inning, Luis Tejada was able to take first base from a fielder's choice being pushed up to third base and touching home from a sacrifice fly to right by Owen Medlock, making it 2-1 Raiders.
Another fielder's choice in the next bottom half of the inning would allow the scoring run to reach the basepath, Colton Colleran was brought around from a single up the middle by Innerfield pushing the score to 3-1.
Rivier was able to put up a crooked number in their final time at the plate, scoring three runs in the inning. A single and stolen base put Tejada in position to be driven in by Martinez from a ground-rule double. Jacob Boudreau then singled to bring in the runner placed on second base, leading to Brady Balint scoring from a passed ball as he stood on third, putting the score at 6-1.
Ray White (Mohegan Lake, N.Y./Lakeland) got the ball to start in the first game, pitching four and two-thirds innings, allowing only two earned runs and striking out four batters.
Max Krom (Southington, Conn./Southington) pitched the final one and one-third innings, giving up two earned runs.
Gillison and CJ Archul (West Nyack, N.Y./Clarkstown South) both finished the day with two hits, as the latter of the two stole a base.
Game Two: Manhattanville 9, Rivier 4
Manhattanville was able to get their bats going in the second game of the series, hitting two long balls and adding on a pair of doubles with one three bagger.
Chris Goohs (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown H.S. East) got the twigs going in the bottom of the first with a two-run blast to left field, bringing home the runner on second with the deep fly.
Rivier would answer back in the top of the second with coming across the plate after a leadoff double from JD Normand. Normand would get pushed up to third from a sacrifice bunt, being brought home by the next batter in a groundout to the second baseman, slicing into the Valiants lead, 2-1.
Continuing to slug, Gillison led off the bottom of the second with a double laced to left center. Making way for Brian Brezosky (Garnerville, N.Y./North Rockland) to single with a bunt to the pitcher having Gillison score on a throwing error by the hurler. Brezosky was able to move up to third base and crossed the plate from a ground out to the infield, giving Manhattanville a 4-1 lead.
Both teams would be held scoreless until the Valiants were able to plate four runs in the bottom of the 5th, with Gregory Tashik (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park Jr./Sr.) starting the scoring by blasting a leadoff homer to left center. Brezosky was able to drive in GIllison from second base for the second run of the inning, leading to Ryan Osso (Eastchester, N.Y./Eastchester) plating two runs in the final out of the inning for the fourth run and the 8-1 margin.
Anthony Mezzaucella (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) knocked a pinch-hit triple to right field in the bottom of the sixth inning, making way for Anthony Iazzetti (Tuxedo, N.Y./Don Bosco Prep) to drive in the run from a sacrifice fly to right field for the ninth Valiant run.
The Raiders put on their rally caps trying to spark a top of the seventh comeback, scoring three runs on only one hit in the final inning, but Aiden Cardel (Lagrangeville, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) was able to shut the door on Rivier for the 9-4 victory in the twinbill.
Gregory Esposito (Katonah, N.Y./John Jay) started the contest, notching the win with his four innings of work, striking out four and only allowing one earned run on two hits.
TJ Fuerst (Purchase, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) came in to relieve the starter, pitching a surgical two innings allowing only one baserunner.
Gillison turned in another two-hit performance, followed by fellow outfielder Brezosky with two of his own.
Up Next
The Valiants are right back to the diamond for a doubleheader against Rhode Island College with first pitch scheduled for 9:00 a.m.
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