MANSFIELD, Conn. – Junior Sean Ferguson (Astoria, N.Y./Xavier) collected a pair of hits, while classmate John Bucci (Port Chester, N.Y./Port Chester) and sophomore Elias Tsouristakis (New Rochelle, N.Y./Fordham Prep) each got singles of their own as Eastern Connecticut held the Manhattanville baseball team to only four hits in its 7-0 win on Wednesday evening in Mansfield, Conn.
 
The pitching matchup saw freshman Zak Zareva (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills Regional) make his first career start and hang up a zero in the bottom of the first inning to match counterpart Greg Porter. In the bottom of the second, the Warrior bats touched up Zareva for a two spot as the first batter reached on a double followed by a two run homerun off the bat of Danny O'Connell to make it 2-0.
 
In the top of the third Tsouristakis led off with a single but was erased two batters later on a double play. In the bottom of the third Eastern Connecticut State added two more runs with a bases loaded single, followed by a bases loaded walk to make the score 4-0. The Warriors tacked on one more run off of Zareva on a bizarre play that saw a bunt single turn into a run with some help from a Manhattanville error.
 
Junior Don Fisher (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) came on to start the bottom of the fifth after having allowed only two earned runs over his 8 2/3 innings in his last four relief outings. Fisher got out of the fifth inning unscathed but allowed a two out double with a runner on second as Eastern Connecticut State increased their lead to 6-0.
 
Manhattanville got their last hit of the night as Ferguson collected his second knock of the evening but was deleted on a double play with the next at-bat. Fisher faced only three batters in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to the eighth. In the top of the eighth inning, Manhattanville threatened by getting two on via hit by pitch and an error but were unable to bring around either base runner.
 
In the bottom of the eighth freshman Brian Lobel (Purchase, N.Y./Harrison) made his collegiate debut out of the bullpen and got the first two batters with ease. After a single and a walk, followed by an error during the next at bat, the Warriors were able to add their seventh and final run as Lobel got out of the inning.
 
The Valiants used a trio of freshman pinch hitters in the top of the ninth trying to get their offense going, but first year players Bobby Guerra (Bronx, N.Y./Arlington), Nate Trashansky (Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) and Tom Kilkenny (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) went down 1-2-3 to end the ballgame.
 
Earning the victory for the Warriors was Porter (3-0) who allowed all four Valiant hits before coming out after the seventh inning. A pair of relievers held Manhattanville hitless in the eighth and ninth innings. Zareva (0-2) took the loss for the Valiants after allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits over four innings. Fisher allowed a run on three hits over his three innings of relief work, while Lobel allowed the final run during the eighth.
 
Manhattanville (12-15, 6-9 Freedom) will return to conference play this Friday when they host the Eastern Eagles at 3:30 p.m. with live stats of the game available on GoValiants.com. Eastern Connecticut State (22-6, 5-2 Little East) will also return to conference play when they play a noon doubleheader at home against the Rhode Island College Anchormen.