BOX SCORE

Purchase, NY (March 18, 2011) – The DeSales University baseball team dropped its Freedom Conference season opener, surrendering a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning as Manhattanville College rallied for three runs in the sixth and seventh innings to score a 9-3 win to start the conference slate.

The Bulldogs (4-5, 0-1 Freedom) had fought back after the Valiants (7-1, 1-0 Freedom) put two runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning with one run in the fourth and two more in the sixth to take a 3-2 lead.

In the fourth, senior Doc Neiman knocked in DSU's first run on an RBI fielder's choice scoring junior Jack Kavetski who had drawn a one-out walk to start the rally.

In the sixth, Kavetski again started the rally earning first base after being hit by a pitch. Neiman later doubled Kateski home and scored himself one batter later on an error by the Valiant pitcher.

After giving up two runs in the first, sophomore David Drinks breezed thru the next four innings, retiring the side in order three times but in the he uncharacteristically walked the first two batters. A double play put a runner on third with two outs, but three straight hits plated three runs as MC took a 5-3 lead and added three more runs in the seventh to take a commanding 8-3 lead.

Drinks finished the game allowing 12 hits and eight runs over seven innings, striking out three and walking just two. Neiman had one hit and two RBIs, Kavetski scored twice and was on-base three times, and sophomore Derek Chrismer had two hits in the loss.

The Bulldogs return to the diamond on Saturday when they take on these same Valiants in the second and third games of the weekend set at Butz Field. First pitch in game one is set for Noon.