ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– One day after putting up 11 runs in the eighth inning, to win the first game of the series, Eastern University dropped a pair of one-run games in the final two games of the series against Manhattanville. While the games were in St. Davids, the displaced Valiants were the home team. Manhattanville took advantage of their last at-bat in the opener to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh to walk-off with a 7-6 win. The Valiants erased a 2-0 deficit with three late inning runs to claim game-two, 3-2.
Senior pitcher
Ryan Kehr allowed an unearned run in the first and then held the Valiants off balance until the fifth inning. The Valiants struck again four four unearned runs with two outs in the fifth. The Eagles put a pair of runs on in the sixth off Manhattanville starter Antonio Ogando, but the Manhattanville bullpen came on to get the next two hitters.
Justin Frederick retired the the Valiants in order in the bottom of the sixth to set up the Eagles' lone big inning of the day.
Jordan Laboy and Freddie Yahn singled, and
Shane Albertson walked to load the bases.
Angelo Kelly singled to drive in one.
Brady DiGiacomo drove in a run when he got hit by a pitch.
Timmy Gorton drove in the third run of the inning to shrink the deficit to 5-3 with nobody out.
Andrew Boykin delivered a two-run double to put the Eagles up 6-5, but the next three Eastern hitters could not keep the rally going.
The Valiants scored two runs with one out in the bottom of the inning to end the game with just one out.
Tommy Strazza struck out six in the nightcap, but the Valiants scored a pair of runs in the fifth and a single tally in the sixth to earn the win. The Eagles left nine men on base in the game. They had rallies cut short in the third and fourth innings by contested calls. DiGiacomo was called out on batter interference on an
Angelo Kelly stolen base with one out in the third. The Eagles left the bases loaded on a play where it appeared that Albertson beat a throw to the bag in the fourth.
Nonetheless. Strazza had a two-run lead heading into the fifth inning. The Valiants scored a pair of runs in the fifth and then pulled ahead on a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
Kelly had four hits in seven at-bats to lift his season average to .432. He has 19 hits this year, which moves him into the second spot on Eastern's career hit list with 162. He passed Greg DeSarro today, and is six hits behind Scott Renauro. He is also six runs behind Renauro.
The Eagles are back on the field for non-league home games on Tuesday and Wednesday before playing a three game set against Wilkes on the weekend.
