PURCHASE, N.Y. – Seniors Dan Fiorito (Yonkers, N.Y./Fordham Prep) and Chris Nardozzi (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) and freshman Kevin Brady (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) went a combined 6-for-11 with seven RBI in Manhattanville baseball's 12-11 win over the Baruch Bearcats on Wednesday afternoon from Manhattanville Field in Purchase, N.Y.
Sophomore Matt Mullin (New York, N.Y./St. John's Prep) started the game for the Valiants and struggled in the first inning allowing three runs on four hits including a two run single off the bat of Thomas Daly who finished the afternoon going 4-for-6 with three runs scored and six RBI. Fiorito started off the bottom of the first with a base hit and was moved up to second on a wild pitch, three batters later junior Sean Ferguson (Astoria, N.Y./Xavier) laced a single into centerfield to make the score 3-1 heading into the second inning.
In the top of the third the Bearcats scored another run, as the rally began with a double off the bat of Daly who was brought in courtesy of a sacrifice fly two batters later. Mullin got out of the inning giving up just one run but was pulled in the top of the fourth for junior Bashir Masani (Westbury, N.Y./W.T. Clarke).
Nardozzi picked up his first RBI with a two out double to bring home sophomore Elias Tsouristakis (New Rochelle, N.Y./Fordham Prep) who walked to lead off the inning. With Masani on the mound in the fourth, he walked the first three batters he faced to start off the inning and allowed two to come in as Daly collected his third hit of the afternoon. Baruch added on one more run to take a 7-2 lead heading to the bottom of the fourth.
Manhattanville's offense got going in the bottom of the fourth started off with freshman Jeff Moskowitz (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) drawing a walk, classmate Bobby Guerra (Bronx, N.Y./Arlington) singled to left field. Yesterday's hero Tsouristakis collected an RBI double to left field, followed by the Bearcat starter Alex Lopez intentionally walking Fiorito to load the bases with one out. Brady was up next and singled through the left side to bring home Tsouristakis and sophomore Hans Arias (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond's) to trim the lead to 7-5.
Up next for the Valiants was Nardozzi who singled to right center to chase home Brady and Fiorito to tie the game at seven. Ferguson was up next and reached on a throwing error from the third baseman that went out of play and allowed Nardozzi to score to put Manhattanville up for the first time at 8-7.
Masani settled down and pitched a scoreless fifth for Manhattanville but struggled in the sixth inning allowing two of the first three batters to reach. The next batter was Daly who picked up two more RBI on another base hit. Masani got the second out of the inning and then was pulled in favor of junior Don Fisher (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) who came on with a runner on second and two down but was unable to strand the inherited runner as John Yuksekol singled deep behind the second base bag that was cut off by Brady.
Down by a score of 10-8, Manhattanville had one more offensive surge in the bottom of the seventh inning started off by junior John Bucci (Port Chester, N.Y./Port Chester) hitting a triple to deep right centerfield. Moskowitz was next to the plate and hit a double to bring around Bucci, followed by Guerra hitting a hard shot that ate up the second baseman allowing Moskowitz to score and tie the game once again. Three batters later Fiorito came up with two on and one out and singled up the middle to put the Valiants back on top at 12-10. Baruch leadoff hitter Steve Hession manufactured a run himself in the top of the eighth inning by singling then stole second and third base before reaching home on a sacrifice fly to pull the Bearcats within one heading to the top of the ninth inning.
Senior A.J. Marini (Fair Lawn, N.J./Paramus Catholic) came on to finish off the game and did just that as he worked around a one out walk to collect his second save of the season. Earning the win for Manhattanville in relief was Fisher (1-1) who pitched 2 1/3 inning allowing a run on two hits. Mullin ended up with the no decision as he allowed the first four runs on six hits over three innings, while Masani pitched 2 2/3 allowing six runs on three hits and four walks.
Taking the loss in relief was Sami Zantout (0-2) who allowed six runs (two earned) on five hits in three innings of work. Lopez started the game and pitched into the fourth inning allowing six runs on five hits and four walks. Paul Perez finished off the game allowing only two hits over the final 1 2/3 innings.
Manhattanville (11-12, 5-7 Freedom) will return to Freedom Conference play this Friday when they travel to Doylestown, Pa. to take on the Delaware Valley Aggies with first pitch slated for 3:30 p.m. Baruch (13-12, 4-0 CUNYAC) will also return to conference play when they take on CCNY tomorrow afternoon in a pair of makeup games at 12:00 p.m.