Knights Drops Conference Set to Manhattanville

NEWBURGH – Starting the day two games behind Manhattanville in the Skyline Conference standings, the Mount Saint Mary College Baseball team suffered a doubleheader loss to the visiting Valiants on Tuesday, falling 6-5 in the opener and 6-4 in game two. Aidan Marshall drove in two runs in the opener and Anthony Franco posted three hits in game two.

Tuesday’s sweep drops Mount Saint Mary to 9-24 overall on the season and 4-10 in conference play, while Manhattanville improves to 15-18 overall and 8-6 against conference rivals.

Game 1: Manhattanville 6 – Mount Saint Mary 5
After two scoreless frames, Mount Saint Mary put four runs on the board in the home half of the third to surge in front 4-0.

The Knights took advantage of three hits and two errors in the inning with Brandon Nolasco leading off the inning with a triple.

Nolasco scored on a fielding error to get the Knights on the board before Jack Goodwin doubled home Robert Brust to make the score 2-0.

Marshall delivered the final two runs of the inning with a two-out double to right center that chased home Goodwin and Liam Merlin.

After a scoreless fourth, Manhattanville got on the board and grabbed a one-run lead with five tallies in the top of the fifth.

Mike Matica singled home two runs to start the scoring with Marco Clara bring the Valiants to within a run with an RBI base hit.

Manhattanville grabbed the lead with two outs in the inning when Josh Gillison pushed home two runs with a doubled to center field.

Manhattanville pushed its lead to 6-4 an inning later when Tyler Mandel came home on a fielder’s choice.

Mount Saint Mary put together one final charge in the sixth when Marshall doubled to start the home half of the inning.

Adam Leone put runners on the corners with no one out following a single before Marshall crossed with the game’s final run on a double play ball.

Mount Saint Mary put the tying run on board in the seventh, but could not advance it to scoring position.

For The Knights
Goodwin went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.

Marshall finished 2-for-3 with two doubles, a run and two RBI.

Nolasco went 2-for-2 with a triple, was hit with a pitch and scored a run.

Merlin drove in a run and scored once.

Brust walked and scored a run.

Liam Horan suffered the tough luck loss, allowing five runs, only one earned, in 5.0 innings of work. He surrendered seven hits and struck out five against only one walk.

Game 2: Manhattanville 6 – Mount Saint Mary 4
Manhattanville jumped out to an early lead after loading the bases with no one out in the first inning.

Clara drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly, but the Knights held the Valiants to just one run after a line drive double play halted the rally.

The Knights got the game even in the third when Devin Tait drove in Goodwin, who walked to start the inning, with a sacrifice fly.

Mount Saint Mary got out in front 2-1 in the fifth inning when Tait singled home Goodwin with one out in the inning.

The Valiants answered with three runs in the top of the sixth to regain a two-run advantage at 4-2.

Matica highlighted the inning with a two-out, two run single through that right side.

The back-and-forth affair saw the Knights quickly knot the score at 4-4 with their final two tallies in the home half of the sixth.

The first three batters reached with Merlin singling to start the frame and an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt gave the Knights runners on second and third with no one out.

Cullen Roper brought the Mount a run closer with a bunt single that scored Merlin.

Franco knotted the score with a single through the left side that chased home Frank Signorelli with the tying run.

Manhattanville again answered with the deciding runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Mike Musantry laced a two-out double to deliver the eventual deciding run with Gillison adding an insurance run when he scored on a wild pitch.

The Knights would manage just two base runners of their final three at-bats and would be unable to put more than runner on base in any of the final three innings.

For The Knights
Franco went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base.

Goodwin posted two more hits, swiped a bag and scored twice.

Tait finished 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Merlin went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Signorelli recorded a hit and scored a run.

Mike Scotto made the start and took a no decision after working 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits.

John Morehead suffered the loss in relief, allowing two runs on three hits in 1.2 innings.

Michael Di Tullio worked 2.0 scoreless innings, striking out two batters.