Valiants Sweep Cougars In Doubleheader
Action
Piscataway, N.J. (3/2/08) - Senior Frank
Albano (Valhalla, N.Y.) picked up two saves after tossing
three scoreless innings as Manhattanville College earned a sweep of
Kean University, 5-3 in extra innings and 3-2 in the nightcap.
Sophomore Nick Nolan (Linden, N.J.) launched
his first homerun of the season, a two-run blast in game two to tie
the game at two apiece, but it wasn't enough for the Cougars (1-2).
Game 1
In what was supposed to be a seven inning affair, Kean jumped on
the board with a single run in the bottom of the sixth as senior
Derek Gianakas (Edison, N.J.) singled home senior
Maikel De La Rosa (Newark, N.J.). The
Valiants (2-0) fought back and plated three runs in the top of the
seventh as catcher Jeff Dunn (Durango, Colo.) hit a
two-run blast to leftfield to give Manahattanville a 3-1
edge.
The Cougars did not go away quietly as they tied things up in
bottom of the same inning. Nolan led things off with a double
down the right field line and after pitch-runner Mike
Hohman (Spotswood,
N.J.) entered the game, he
quickly came around and scored after senior Bryan Burke
(Lindenhurst,
N.Y.) hit the right-center gap
with a triple. Senior Kevin O'Neill
(Union,
N.J.) recorded the game-tying RBI
with a ground-out.
Pinch-hitter Joe Gallace (Harrison,
N.Y.) registered the game-winning hit with a two
RBI single in the top of the ninth to seal the win in game one.
Junior Brandon Aich
(Sayreville,
N.J.) suffered the loss in game
one. He (1-1) tossed 2.2 innings of relief allowing two runs
and two hits. Sophomore John Kain
(Harrison, N.Y.) earned
the win in relief for the Valiants. Kain (1-0) tossed one
scoreless inning allowing just one hit.
Game 2
Game two turned out to be just a seven inning contest after game
one went into extra innings. After falling behind 2-0 early,
KU tied things up with Nolan's two-run blast in the bottom of the
second. The Valiants broke the tie in the top of the sixth as
Mike Mooney (Mahopac,
N.Y.) hit a two-out single.
Albano entered the game in the bottom of the sixth and retired
all six batters that he faced to earn his second save of the
afternoon. Senior Danny Alvarez (Port
Chester, N.Y.) earned the win after
tossing five innings allowing two runs and five hits.
The Cougars will be back in action on Monday, March
3rd as they take on #9 Eastern Connecticut State
University at 3 p.m. back at Rutgers University.
