WEST LAWN, Pa.- Senior Alex Basso (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Putnam Valley) tossed a complete game while junior Bobby Guerra (Bronx, N.Y./Arlington) knocked in five RBIs for the Manhattanville baseball team on Friday afternoon, leading the Valiants past top-seeded DeSales in the Freedom Conference Tournament first round by a final score of 9-2.
After the complete game win, Basso is now tied for the all-time wins record at Manhattanville with 17, matching former Valiants pitcher Mike Seminara '05. As the fourth seed, Manhattanville (23-13) has taken down the top seed in the conference playoffs each of the last three seasons, including today's upset win over DeSales (25-14).
Just like last year in the first round against top-seeded Misericordia, Basso (6-1) was exceptional on the mound for the Valiants, tossing all nine innings, allowing only two runs on six total hits while striking out nine.
Offensively, Guerra led the charge, going 3 for 5 at the plate with five RBIs and one run scored, including a bases-clearing double in the fifth inning to break the game open for the Valiants.
Manhattanville got started early in the first inning, scoring twice off DeSales starting pitcher Steven Wallace. As junior Kevin Brady (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) started the first with a leadoff single to center field, he would eventually come around to score the game's first run on a sacrifice fly from freshman Joe Anselmi (North Rockland, N.Y./North Rockland). The Valiants scored their second run when it was Guerra knocking in sophomore Jordanis Nunez (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond) on a single to left field.
With Basso in command for majority of the afternoon, DeSales had trouble gathering any consistent rhythm at the plate. The Bulldogs cut their deficit to one in the second inning on a double from Carrington Santana before tying the game at two in the fourth on a single from Charles Dennis.
The second run from the Bulldogs in the fourth was eventually the last they would see all day as Basso settled down, punching out DeSales left and right. Manhattanville put together a monstrous fifth inning, thanks to a big game from Guerra. As Lynch singled to third base, bringing in the go-ahead run, Guerra soon stepped up with the bases loaded, smoking a double to left field, clearing the bases and giving the Valiants a 6-2 lead after five.
The Valiants were not done there as their bats continued to make noise. Freshman Chris Conklin (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland) drove in another run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly before Guerra connected on another RBI single in the ninth, making it 8-2. Senior Eli Tsouristakis (New Rochelle, N.Y./Fordham Prep) eventually brought home another insurance run in the final inning on a fielder's choice, expanding the Manhattanville lead to 9-2.
Basso found some trouble in the ninth inning as DeSales loaded the bases, but the senior narrowed down, escaping the threat and leading Manhattanville to a 9-2 first round victory over top-seeded DeSales.
Manhattanville will play the winner of Misericordia and FDU-Florham tomorrow at 3 p.m. in the winner's bracket at Owls Field. Live stats are available via GoValiants.com.