PURCHASE, N.Y.- The host Manhattanville Valiants grabbed the early edge in a baseball series with enormous play-off implications as they jumped to a 13-2 lead after two innings and held on for a 13-5 win over the visiting Eastern Eagles. Barry Jost pitched five scoreless innings in relief for the Eagles, but the Eastern offense was never able to make up the ground lost in the early going.

Eastern (19-13, 7-9 Freedom) scored first, but as was the Eagles pattern through the day, they plated only a single run in their half of the inning. Greg DeSarro delivered an RBI double to drive in Dave Prager from first.DeSarro finished with three hits for the day to bring his season total to 46.He is now in a tie for fifth on the Eastern single season record board. 

The lead, however, was short-lived. Manhattanville (13-15, 7-9 Freedom) struck for three in the bottom of the first. After the Eagles answered with another single tally on a Brendan Spall RBI single in the second, the wheels officially came off for a bit. The Valiants pounded out ten runs on ten hits in the bottom of the second. Eastern starter Nick Moeltner faced eight hitters in the inning without retiring a batter.

Scott Renauro hit a solo shot to left center in the sixth for his first home run of the year. The round-tripper moves him into third on the Eastern career list with 10. It appeared as though a rally was forming in the sixth, but the Eagles could only score a single run on a Mark Royer single. They stranded a pair to end the inning.

Jost's work in relief provided alone bright spot on the afternoon. He retired 15 of the 18 hitters he faced and did not allow an extra base hit in five innings of work.

The two teams are now tied for the final playoff spot in the Freedom standings. They will meet up again tomorrow in St. Davids for a doubleheader that will decide the season series and give one team a major edge in securing a spot in the postseason. The games will start at noon and can be viewed on Eagle Vision.

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