FLEMINGTON, N.J.—Eastern University Baseball opened the 2015 Freedom Conference season with a “home” game against the Manhattanville College Valiants on Friday night.

In what was supposed to be the home-opener, Eastern Baseball had to play on the turf fields of Diamond Nation in Flemington, N.J., because of soggy conditions in St. Davids.

Manhattanville took hold of the game late to claim a 9-5 win over the Eagles. Eastern had its best offensive production of the year, accumulating nine hits; Manhattanville also posted nine hits, but took advantage of a couple of Eastern mistakes to put up the nine runs.

Senior Ryan McMenamin, batting in the two-hole, reached safely every plate appearance, going 3-for-3 at the plate and walking twice. Eastern's three through eight hitters each collected a hit. Eric Rossi, Angelo Kelly and Cal Sanelli each recorded an RBI, and freshman Timmy Gorton knocked in two runs with a triple.

Austin Little started on the mound for the Eagles and took a no decision after five innings. Little allowed three hits, three walks and one earned run while striking out four batters. Ryan Kehr, who came in to pitch the sixth, was hit with the loss. After Josh Freed and Grant Fisher split the seventh, Tommy Strazza came in from second base to pitch the final two innings. Strazza tossed a perfect ninth inning, striking out all three batters swinging.

Manhattanville recorded the first run of the game in the top of the second, but Eastern tied it in the bottom of the inning with a double down the right field line by freshman Cal Sanelli that scored Gorton.

The Valiants regained the lead with a run in the third.

Eastern had a big inning in the fifth scoring three runs. McMenamin and Rossi walked, and Gorton pulled a triple down the right field line to bring them both home. Manhattanville swapped pitchers at that point, bringing in Zach Zareva. Zareva allowed Gorton to score on an infield single by Angelo Kelly, but after that pitched a solid scoreless 2.2 innings en route to the win.

Up 4-2, Eastern's lead unraveled in the top of the sixth. Manhattanville took advantage of two Eastern errors and a few wild pitches to score three runs and take the lead for good.

Manhattanville scored twice in the seventh and eighth to stretch the lead to 9-4.  Eastern tacked on a run in the ninth after Rossi singled to left to score McMenamin.

Eastern (0-7) looks for its first win on Monday. The Eagles are scheduled to play at Wesley College at 3:30 p.m.

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