Baseball Drops 8-4 Decision to Manhattanville

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Manhattanville College posted an 8-4 win over Bridgewater State University on Monday afternoon at The Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach.

The Valiants improve to 3-1 on the season, while the Bears fall to 2-1.

A Jake Parisi (Sr., Centereach, N.Y.) sacrifice fly opened the scoring for Manhattanville in the bottom of the second.

An RBI triple by junior right fielder Jay Wladkowski (Norwood, Mass.) in the top of the third and a Wladkowski RBI double in the fifth put the Bears on top, 2-1.

The Valiants reclaimed the lead in the home half of the fifth when a double steal resulted in two unearned runs as the catcher's throw to third sailed down the left field line.

Senior first baseman Joey Molis (Cumberland, R.I.) tied the game in the seventh with an RBI double and came around to score on a two-out RBI single by freshman third baseman Riley Thornell (Wareham, Mass.) to put the Bears on top, 4-3.

A key BSU error led to three unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh as Manhattanville jumped back ahead for good. Graduate designated hitter Tyler Mandel's (Scarsdale, N.Y.) two-run double was the big hit in the frame.

The Valiants tacked on two more runs in the eighth on a double steal and an RBI single by senior catcher Michael Matica (Pleasantville, N.Y.) to account for the final score of 8-4.

Neither starting pitched factored in the decision. Graduate righthander Alby Ciuffetelli (Mahopac, N.Y.) tossed the first five innings for the Valiants allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Senior righthander Matthew Seavey (North Attleboro, Mass.) gave up three unearned runs on just two hits over five innings for the Bears with four walks and seven strikeouts.

Senior lefthander Tommy Iazzetta (Thornwood, N.Y.) picked up the win in relief for Manhattanville. Iazzetta (1-0) gave up two runs on three hits over four innings with two walks and three strikeouts.

Freshman righthander Trey Yesu (Monson, Mass.) was tagged with the loss on the mound for Bridgewater State. Yesu (0-1) allowed three unearned runs on three hits over two innings with no walks and three strikeouts.

Wladkowski (2-5, 2RBI), Molis (2-5, R, RBI), Thornell (2-4, BB, RBI) and sophomore second baseman Scott Emerson (Peabody, Mass.) recorded two hits apiece to lead the BSU offense. Emerson went 2-for-4 and scored a run.

Graduate centerfielder Brian Bornkamp (North Massapequa, N.Y.) reached safely four times to pace the Manhattanville offense. Bornkamp went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and two runs scored. Mandel (2-4, R, 2RBI) and Parisi (2-3, 2R, RBI) also finished with two hits apiece for the Valiants.

The two teams face off again tomorrow morning in Myrtle Beach at 9:00 AM.