The come-from-behind win came on the heels of a heartbreaking 12-9 loss in the opener. The game two win is the first Freedom Conference win in the history of Eastern University Baseball.

The Eagles, picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll, trailed the co-favorites 5-0 after the top of the third in game two. The visitors, who average just short of ten runs a game, scored two in the first, one in the second and two in the third on a Chris Nardozzi home run.

Joel Rios started the Eastern rally in the bottom of the third with a beautiful drag bunt for a single. Head Coach Matt Midkiff cited the four-run third as a turning point for the Eagles. He said, "Going into that at bat, it looked really bleak. Joel got us started and we put together some really good at bats with two outs to get back into it." After Scott Renauro and Matt Horican flied to center, Dan Garcia, Mike McNulty, Ramon Reyes, Greg DeSarro, and Kurt Kebaugh each singled to pull the Eagles to within one.

Eastern starter Kyle Kurdewan navigated his way through the fourth unscathed. Then the Eagles scored another two-out run as Garcia's looping fly down the right field line fell in a perfect spot between three Valiant defenders to drive in Renauro.

The Manhattanville sluggers did more damage to lead off the fifth as Kevin Murray launched his third home run of the series, and Chris Nastasi hit a towering shot to straight away center to put the Valiants up 7-5. The next two hitters reached on singles before Coach Midkiff made the move to Matt Martin.

Martin got the first hitter to pop up and then snared a vicious line drive right back through the middle and flipped to first for a double play to get out of the inning. Martin has not allowed a run this Spring. Midkiff spoke of Martin's effort saying, "Matt is not afraid. He did a great job getting us out of a jam and and got us through the sixth as well. That is exactly what we need him to do."

The Eagles closed the gap to 7-6 on a Renauro shot in the sixth, but the rally ended with a pair of runners on base. Despite giving up a pair of singles, Joel Rios pitched a scoreless top of the seventh to set up the final rally.

Bill Brim, who had entered the game at second base for Rios the inning before, started the rally by taking an inside pitch off his leg. Jessie Taylor took Brim's spot at first and stole second in front of a Kebaugh walk. The Eastern coaches elected to have André Butler move the runners along with a bunt, but the speedy junior beat out the play to load the bases.

With no outs, the Valiants were forced to bring the infield in. It appeared that the gamble would work when Rios pulled a sharp ground ball to first. The throw home was in time to get Taylor, but the return throw to first was late, and Kebaugh kept running from second. The senior left fielder reached the plate just before the ball to tie the game. Midkiff gave credit to third base coach Mike Santello for the aggressive send. He said, "Mike saw the play the whole way, and we need to get Kurt home if they make the double play. Kurt did a great job on the bases."

In Renauro, the Eagles had the man they wanted at the plate in the clutch situation. The sophomore shortstop is hitting .444 on the year and has struck out just six times. Renauro muscled a flare into short center field to score Butler for the game-winner. Rios picked up the win in relief.

The game two win was more impressive given the events of earlier in the day. In game one, the Eagles held a 9-6 lead going into the top of the seventh, but Manhattanville scored six times in the seventh to earn the 12-9 win. Renauro was the offensive leader in the opener as well with two hits and three RBIs. Mike McNulty homered and drove in a pair.

Midkiff was pleased to see his team bounce back. "It was a really tough loss in game one. We thought we were out of the inning a couple times, and things didn't go our way. For us to come back and get the second game against a team that hits like they do is really big. We feel like we brought in some good players who are helping us and the guys who were here last year have done a lot to get better as well. We got really good contributions from a lot of different guys to earn the win."

The Eagles (6-5, 1-2 Freedom) have doubled their win total from 2009. They return to action for a non-league game against the University of Maine Presque Isle on Tuesday before resuming league play against King's next Friday.

Game 1 Box 

Game 2 Box