WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -  Sophomore Johnny LoVetere (Southbury, Conn./Canterbury) reached on a bases loaded fielder's choice in the top of the ninth inning to score the game winning run, as the Manhattanville baseball team came from behind to defeat #7/13 Eastern Connecticut State University, 12-9, on a cold and blustery Tuesday afternoon at Mansfield Outdoor Complex.

Junior Chris Nardozzi (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) led the Valiants with three runs batted in on the afternoon and was a big part of a six-run fifth inning, in which the Valiants battled back from a 7-2 deficit to take the lead. Freshman Hans Arias (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond's) had a pair of RBIs and a late ninth-inning hit to give the Valiants the victory. As a team, the Valiants finished with 13 hits, with senior Alex Braverman (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) and sophomore John Bucci (Port Chester, N.Y./Port Chester) joining Nardozzi with a pair of hits.

Manhattanville starter junior A.J. Marini (Fairlawn, N.J./Paramus Catholic) struggled in his three innings of work, allowing seven runs (five earned) on eight hits. However, the Valiant bullpen was brilliant in relief, as classmate Donny Pitasi (Mount Kisco, N.Y./Fox Lane) allowed one run on two hits in four innings while graduate student Alex Mason (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Rye Neck) ceded just one unearned run in two frames.

Eastern Connecticut struck first and put up five runs in second inning, before the Valiants scored two in the third. Senior Chad Wallace (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) and sophomore Matt Petrunti (East Granby, Conn./Loomis-Chaffee) singled to begin the inning, followed by graduate student Joe Gallace (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) reaching on an error by his counterpart that allowed Wallace to score. Junior Dan Fiorito (Yonkers, N.Y./Fordham Prep) plated the second Valiant run with a single to right field that scored Gallace.

The Warriors added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning to regain a five-run advantage, however, the Valiants fought back to take a lead in the fifth inning by scoring six times. The visitors got four hits and also reached on an error to start the inning, as Wallace sent a shot that the shortstop could not handle. With the bases loaded, Bucci sent a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Wallace, cutting the Warriors lead to 7-3. 

The Valiants closed the gap with a base-clearing double by Nardozzi to score Petrunti, Gallace and Fiorito. LoVetere tied the game for the Valiants with a single to the shortstop that scored Nardozzi from second. The boys in red then took an 8-7 lead on a fielder's choice by Arias, scoring Braverman.

With the Valiants leading 8-7, the Warriors tied the game in the bottom half of the inning and the score remained even until the last inning of the game.

Late in the game, both teams inserted their top pitchers, Mason for Manhattanville and Jim Schult for the Warriors, but the Valiants found a way to beat Schult (2-1), who surrendered four runs on five hits in the ninth.  

Braverman gave the visitors a one-run lead, 9-8, with a bases-loaded single to left field. LoVetere then scored sophomore Raul Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y./DeWitt Clinton) on a fielder's choice, which became the game-winning run. Arias kept the Valiants alive with a scorcher down the third base line that bounced off the base and scored Nardozzi to give the Valiants a 11-9 lead. Wallace ended the Valiant outburst with an RBI ground out to short.

The Warriors tried to tie the contest as Mason (3-0) allowed one run on two hits in the final inning, but the home team left two runners on as Robert Perry popped up to the pitcher's mound to end the game.

With the victory, the Valiants picked up their first-ever win over the nationally-ranked Warriors in five tries.

Manhattanville (10-4, 2-2 Freedom) will return to Freedom Conference play on Friday afternoon, as the Valiants are scheduled to travel to Eastern University for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch.